HOUSEKEEPING.
A. H.—The stillroom-maid of the present day has charge of the housekeeper’s room, and waits upon her and on those of the household who dine with her. She assists the housekeeper in her preparations for second courses and desserts, and looks after linen and the reserved stores of glass and china.
Katie will find that a raw potato, cut into small pieces, with a little water, well shaken up and allowed to stand for a few hours, will clean decanters and glass jugs and bottles beautifully.
Alexandra.—Enamelled saucepans may be cleaned with a little chloride of lime with water. Let it stand for a time, and rub well with a cloth. This will restore its whiteness to the enamel. When burnt, boil some soda and water in them.
Llanthony.—The washing should be done at home by the servant, and you will have to help in the house yourself. The butcher’s bill must not exceed 10s. a week, which ought to be enough, with care. You do not say where you live, so we cannot give you much help.
F. W. M.—There are many recipes for making polish for furniture, but none better than the old-fashioned turpentine and beeswax. Making polish is an expense and waste of time now, for most chemists keep good polish at a moderate price. To apply the polish, make a wad of old cloth, put some on it, and apply to the furniture, rubbing it in very well till quite dry. Then finish with an old silk rag. The wood must of course be perfectly clean first, and if not so use a little vinegar and oil to clean the surface. It would be impossible to tell you how long to rub; your own sense must be your guide. Do not rub a hole in the table, for instance, nor rub your fingers to the bone; and you will find it to your advantage not to leave the polish in pools on the table.