"The White house Cookbook": Facts Worth Knowing, Part Deux

Part One is here.

Take the jump for such interesting factoids as how to "prevent oil from becoming rancid," how to deal with "troublesome ants" and---the one I'm sure you've been waiting for with bated breath---"how to cure hiccoughs."

To Ventilate a Room:-Place a pitcher of cold water on a table in your room and it will absorb all the gases with which the room is filled from the respiration of those eating or sleeping in the apartment. Very few realize how important such purification is for the health of the family, or, indeed, understand or realize that there can be any impurity in the rooms; yet in a few hours a pitcher or a pail of cold water---the colder the more effective---will make the air of a room pure, but the water will be entirely unfit for use.

To Fill Cracks in Plaster:-Use vinegar instead of water to mix your plaster of Paris. The resultant mess will be like putty, and will not "set" for twenty or thirty minutes; whereas, if you use water the plaster will become hard almost immediately, before you have time to use it. Push it into the cracks and smooth it off nicely with a table knife.

To Take Spots from Wash Goods:-Rub them with the yolk of egg before washing.

{EdWonder if this would give Shout! a run for its money}

To Take White Spots from Varnished Furniture:-Holt a hot stove lid or plate over them and they will soon disappear.

{Ed. It CAN'T be that easy.}

To Prevent Oil from Becoming Rancid:-Drop a few drops of ether into the bottle containing it.

Troublesome Ants:-A heavy chalk mark laid a finger's distance from your sugar box and all around (there must be no space not covered) will surely prevent ants from troubling.

{Ed. Cross this line, you troublesome ants, and YOU'LL BE IN BIG TROUBLE!}

To Make Tough Meat Tender:-Lay it for a few minutes in a strong vinegar water.

To Remove Discoloration from Bruises:-Apply a cloth wrung out in very hot water, and renew frequently until pain ceases. Or apply raw beefsteak.

A Good Polish for Removing Stains, Spots and Mildew from Furniture is made as follows: Take a half a pint of ninety-eight per cent {sic}alcohol, a quarter of an ounce each of pulverized resin and gum shellac; add half a pint of linseed oil; shake well and apply with a brush or sponge.

To Remove Finger-Marks:-Sweet oil will remove finger-marks from varnished furniture, and kerosene from oiled furniture.

{Ed. I'm loving all the handy household tips that involve using freakin' KEROSENE!}

To Remove Paint from Black Silk:-Patient rubbing with chloroform will remove paint from black silk or any other goods, and will not hurt the most delicate color or fabric.

To Freshen Gilt Frames:-Gilt Fframes may be revived by carefully dusting them, and then washing with one ounce of soda beaten up with the whites of three eggs. Scraped patches might be touched up with any gold paint. Castile soap and water, with proper care, may be used to clean oil paintings; other methods should not be employed without some skill.

{Ed. Somewhere, somehow, an art restorer is gasping in horror at the thought that someone would use soap and water to clean an oil painting.}

To Destroy Moths in Furniture:-All the baking and steaming are useless, as although the moths may be killed, their eggs are sure to hatch, and the upholstery to be well riddled. The naphtha-bath process is effectual. A sofa, chair or lounge may be immersed in the large vats used for the purpose, and all insect life will be absolutely destroyed. No egg ever hatches after passing through the naphtha-bath; all oil, dirt or grease disappears, and not the slightest damage is done to the most costly article. Sponging with naphtha will not answer. It is the immersion for two hours or more in the specially prepared vats which is effectual.

Slicing Pineapples:-The knife used for peeling a pineapple should not be used for slicing it, as the rind contains an acid that is apt to cause a swollen mouth and sore lips. The Cubans use salt as an antidote for the ill effects of the peel.

{Ed. I've never heard of this in my lifetime. That's bunk.}

To Clean Iron Sinks:-Rub them well with a cloth wet with kerosene oil.

{Ed. AGAIN with the kerosene! YOU CAN BE POISONED WITH KEROSENE! DOES IT NOT OCCUR TO ANYONE THAT IT'S A FREAKIN' BAD IDEA TO USE THIS STUFF LIKE IT'S IVORY SOAP?????}

To Erase Discoloration on Stone China:-Dishes and cups that are used for baking custards, puddings, etc. that require scouring, may be easily cleaned by rubbing a damp cloth dipped in whiting or "Sapolio," then washed as usual.

To Remove Ink, Wine or Fruit Stains:-Saturate well in tomato juice; it is also an excellent thing to remove stains from the hands.

To Set Colors in Washable Goods:-Soak them previous to washing in a water in which is allowed a tablespoonful of ox-gall to a gallon of water.

To Take out Paint:-Equal parts of ammonia and turpentine will take paint out of clothing, no matter how dry or hard it may be. Saturate the spot two or three times, then wash out in soap-suds. Ten cents worth of oxalic acid dissolved in a pint of hot water will remove paint spots from the windows. Pour a little into a cup, and apply to the spots with a swab, but be sure not to allow the acid to touch the hands. Brasses may be quickly cleaned with it. Great care must be exercised in labeling the bottle, and putti it out of the reach of children as it is a deadly poison.

{Ed. Oh yeah, sure Oxalic Acid rates a special warning, but kerosene's practically good for chugging!}

To Remove Tar from Cloth:-Saturate the spot and rub it well with turpentine, and every trace of tar will be removed.

To Destroy Ants:-Ants that frequent houses or gardens may be destroyed by taking flour of brimstone half a pound, and potash four ounces; set them in an iron or earthen pan over the fire until dissolved and united; afterwards beat them to a powder, and infuse a little of this powder in water, and wherever you sprinkle it the ants will fly the place.

Simple Disinfectant:- The following is a refreshing disinfectant for a sick room or any room that has an unpleasant aroma prevading it. Out some fresh ground coffee in a saucer, and in the centre place a small piece of camphor gum, which light with a match. As the gum burns, allow sufficient coffee to consume with it. The perfume is very pleasant and healthful, being far superior to pastiles and very much cheaper.

{Ed. PEEEEEEE.U.}

Cure for Hiccough:-Sit erect and inflate lungs fully. Then, retaining the breath, bend forward slowly until the chest meets the knees. After slowly arising again to the erect position, slowly exhale the breath. Repeat this process a second time, and the nerves will be found to have received an access of energy that will enable them to perform their natural functions.

Posted by Kathy at January 3, 2006 11:54 PM | TrackBack