Fowlers Household Helps | Page 6

knives of your food chopper become black and dull, run a piece of sand soap, or scouring brick, through the chopper as you would a potato. It will brighten and sharpen the knives and they will cut like new. Use pulverized sand soap or the scouring brick with which you scour.
Kerosene for Water Bugs--A small quantity of kerosene poured down the drain pipe occasionally will stop annoyance from this pest.
To Prevent a Glass from Breaking when pouring hot water in it, first put a spoon in the glass. This method can also be used when pouring hot soup or any hot liquid in any fragile receptacle.
When Butter is Too Hard to spread easily, turn a heated bowl upside down over the butter dish for a few minutes. This will thoroughly soften the butter without melting it.
To Open Fruit Jars--Strips of emery board, about one inch wide and eight inches or so long, will be found useful to loosen obstinate fruit jar tops. Just place the strip around the edge of the top, and give it a twist.
To Keep Refrigerator Sweet--A lump of charcoal should be placed in the refrigerator to keep it sweet. When putting your best tea or coffee urn away, drop a small piece of charcoal in it and prop the lid open with a toothpick.
Currycomb for Scaling Fish--A currycomb is better than a knife for scaling fish, as it protects the hands.
Cornpopper for Toasting Bread--The cornpopper can be used for toasting odds and ends of stale bread which would otherwise be wasted.
To Prevent Stains Under the Nails--Dip the ends of the fingers in melted tallow before beginning a task which is likely to stain them.
To Remove Stains from the Hands, rub them with a piece of lemon.
Starch to Prevent Chapped Hands--Use starch which is ground fine to prevent chapped hands. Every time the hands are washed and rinsed thoroughly, wipe them off, and, while they are yet damp, rub a pinch of starch over their entire surface. Chapping is then not likely to occur.
Wisp Brush for Greasy Pans and Kettles--A small wisp brush is better for cleaning greasy pans and kettles than the string mop you use for the dishes. You can buy them two for five cents. A little soap powder sprinkled on them makes a fine suds for the tinware and cooking utensils.
Best Way to Strain Soup--When straining soup set a coarse strainer inside of a fine one and pour the liquid through both; you will thus avoid clogging the fine one with pieces of meat and broken bones.
How to Crack Pecan Nuts--Almost all housewives know how very hard it is to crack pecan nuts and get the meats out whole. Pour boiling water over the nuts and let them stand tightly covered for five or six hours. The nut meats may then be extracted easily without a trace of the bitter lining of the nut. Use a nut cracker and crack lightly all around the nuts. The work is quickly done and is not at all like the tedious process of picking out the meats from the dry nuts. The meats nearly always come out whole.
Lemon Squeezer for Making Beef Juice--When one has to make beef juice in small quantities which does not warrant buying an expensive meat-press, use instead a ten-cent lemon squeezer. This can be sterilized by boiling and kept absolutely clean. One can press out several ounces in a very few minutes.
Quick Way to Peel Carrots--Use a coarse grater to peel carrots. A few passes over the grater will rid the carrots of their skins quicker than any other method.
Proper Way to Slice Bacon--To slice bacon properly, always place it rind down, and do not attempt to cut through the rind until you have the desired number of slices. Then slip the knife under them and cut them free of the rind, keeping as close to it as possible.
When Cream is on the Turn--When the sweetness of the cream is doubtful and there is no more on hand and it must be used, a pinch of soda will keep it from curdling, even in hot coffee.
To Prevent Musty Teapot--When putting away a silver teapot, or one that is not in everyday use, place a little stick across the top underneath the cover. This will allow fresh air to get in and prevent mustiness.
Lemon or Orange Peel for Tea Caddy--Thoroughly dry the peel from an orange or a lemon, and place it in the tea caddy. This will greatly improve the flavor of the tea.
Heat Lemons Before Squeezing--In using lemons, heat them thoroughly before squeezing and you will obtain nearly double the quantity of juice that you would if they had not been heated.
To Keep Teakettle from Rusting--A clean oyster shell placed in the teakettle will keep out rust.
To Clean Gas Stove