41.  To Clean Sieve.—­Hold a sieve which has been used for straining oatmeal, tomatoes, fruit, etc., at once under the faucet, or shake it in enough water to cover it, then slap it, and it is easily cleaned; if it dries first it is almost impossible to get it clean even by more time and effort.

42.  Washing Clothes.—­After the clothes have been soaked a while to loosen the dirt, spread on washboard, soap, and then rub with a common scrub brush.  The dirt comes out easier and with much less wear on the clothes.  Even when the washing machine is used, this is a help for the wrist bands that are not quite clean.

43.  Discoveries.—­When old clothes, like worn-out aprons or waists or linings come to hand, and are absolutely good for nothing else, cut them into small pieces, say eight or twelve inches square, some larger, and put them into a bag or box easily accessible.  Then when something is spilled over on stove or floor, or mess of any kind is made, use these bits for cleaning up and drop them into the fire.

[Miscellaneous recipes 861]

44.  To Stretch Curtains.—­Take curtains while wet and put on a curtain rod; also put a heavy rod as a weight on the lower hem.  Hang one on curtain at a time at an open window and stretch the desired width.

45.  Cleaning Windows in the Winter.—­It is a hard task in the winter time to wash windows in the old way, but if it is very cold, windows can be cleaned by using “Bon Ami,” The same is useful for cleaning bright pieces on stoves.

46.  How to Kill Black Ants.—­A request for information as to how to rid plants and trees of black ants, which was received at the Pennsylvania department of agriculture’s division of zoology, elicited the following from Prof.  H. A. Surface, State Zoologist.  You can do this by finding the nesting places of the pests and making holes into the interior of them with a sharpened stick like a broom handle and pouring into each hole a half tea cup of carbon bisulphide.  Fill the hole with earth and cover with a wet cloth or blanket to keep down the fumes and the ants will be destroyed at once.  This is the best possible method for destroying ants of any kind.

47.  Washing Windows.—­It is better to wash windows on a cloudy day or when the sun is not shining directly on them.  Before washing, dust them thoroughly inside and out, then wash the woodwork without touching the glass.  For the glass use warm water, to which add a tablespoonful of kerosene to each pailful of water used.  Dry with a cloth or chamois skin, wrung very dry; then polish with a soft cloth or soft old newspapers.

48.  Home-made Soap Shaker.—­A baking powder can with holes punctured in both cover and bottom, makes a fine soap shaker.  Put all the small scraps of soap in this, and when you wash dishes, just put box and all in your dishpan and shake about.  You will have a nice suds and no soap rubbing off on the dishes.