Clean as a Whistle E-Book

Gloria Oxford

• Herausgeber: IMM Lifestyle Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Seitenzahl: 378

Beschreibung

Let Gloria's organizational skills and problem-solving methods completely change your approach to household cleaning, so that you are simply maintaining tidiness instead of spending days doing housework. Clean as a Whistle is a collation of household hints and tips that is a must have for every home. The hints are presented room by room to provide information to help you organize the housework so it doesn't pile up into a burdensome chore. There are solutions to removing the most stubborn stains.

Leseprobe

CLEAN

AS A WHISTLE

CLEAN

AS A WHISTLE

HOUSEHOLD HINTS AND TIPS

GLORIA OXFORD

About the Author

Gloria Oxford was educated in the rudiments of home science when they were an integral part of the school curriculum.

Her early career was in statistics and market research, after which she spent five years with a top fashion magazine before joining a leading appliance manufacturer as advertising manager.

An inquiring mind and a love of puzzles make her an ideal trouble shooter and problem solver. This is clearly evidenced by consumer response to her magazine and newspaper columns, and her regular radio programs.

Gloria frequently reproduces problems that people write to her about, and then sets about finding a solution. She readily admits that this often involves considerable sleuthing and experimentation that can cause long delays in answering her enormous amount of mail.

An avid traveller, Gloria is constantly on the lookout for new ideas and hints to pass on to her readers and listeners.

Without being a fanatic, Gloria is environmentally aware, and encourages recycling in the home for saving money and the environment.

INTRODUCTION

After many years of writing columns, making television appearances, and taking part in talkback radio programs plus answering the thousands of letters I receive from all over the world, I have changed the format of this book to suit your needs.

The Hints, in the form of Household Help, are presented, at your request, room by room, to provide information and help you to organise the housework so that it does not become a burdensome chore.

I want you to enjoy your free time but, if you come home to chaos, enjoyment can quickly change to despair. I hope the information contained in these pages helps make life easier for you.

NOTE: The material contained in this book is based on the experience of the author only and no other substantiation is offered. To obtain the best results and to avoid damage when using the information contained in this book it is recommended that any product being used be tested on a sample of the particular material or surface it is to be used on. As the use and application of the variety of products and suggestions is entirely out of the hands of the author, publishers, printers and others indirectly associated with the book, no guarantee can be given or responsibility assumed.

CONTENTS

OUTSIDE THE HOME

KITCHEN

BATHROOM

LAUNDRY

LIVING

STORAGE

HOUSEHOLD

OUTSIDE THE HOME

In the beginning, Man sallied forth from his cave with a club, grabbed a female by the hair, and dragged her back to do the cooking, cleaning, breeding and caring. Since then, everything has changed. Even the description of the cave has changed but, regardless of what it is named—house, home, apartment, flat, palace or chateau—one thing remains constant. The cave still needs to be cleaned and cared for.

The first introduction to your place of abode is the surrounding area, and if nothing else, it should be clean, tidy, and look as if someone cares.

The gate should be free of spider webs and dust. Paths should be swept regularly, and the front door clean. If the front door needs painting, don’t delay - paint it.

ALUMINIUM WINDOW FRAMES

To clean aluminium window frames, make a paste with powdered whiting (available at hardware stores) and methylated spirits. Put some of the paste onto a cloth and polish the frames. Buff up with a soft, clean cloth. If the frames have caked-on dirt, use a brush, very hot water and wool wash before applying the whiting paste.

ANIMALS

When cats or dogs exercise their territorial claim by urinating on, in and around doorways, wash the claim away with hot water and a good disinfectant. Let it dry, then spray with one of the commercial deterrents, available from hardware stores and garden supply shops.

ANIMALS ON GARDENS

When animals choose one particular spot to urinate or defecate on the garden, apart from the smell, plants are likely to die. While there are commercial products which certainly act as a deterrent, it might be better to plant Coleus caninus, a small perennial which deters both cats and dogs. Use a bird and animal repellent, available from garden supply shops and some hardware stores. Respray Multicrop after rain or watering.

ANTS – IN THE GARDEN

An old recipe for keeping ants out of the garden is to mix 250 grams (½ lb) salt, with half a litre (1 pint) of water then mix in 5 kilograms (10 lbs) of sawdust or bran and about 10 cups of molasses. It makes a very crumbly mixture to spread around plants and shrubs, and is not dangerous to children and pets.

ANT – REPELLENT

I have had a great deal of success ridding my place of ants with diatomaceous earth. It is sold under different brand names for swimming pool filters. It is a powder and looks a bit messy when spread around but within two days the scurrying lines of ants slow to a crawl and after four days, disappear. They come back of course but with their numbers rapidly diminishing. As with talcum powder, don’t breathe it in.

APHIDS

One of the best ways of keeping the aphid population to a minimum is to plant lots of garlic in the garden. It has the added advantage of producing an extra crop for kitchen use. Garlic chives have the same effect, so two or three clumps of them could also be added to the garden.

An effective natural spray for aphids is made by putting 1 tablespoon Epsom salt and 1 teaspoon Condy’s crystals in a bucket of water and once every two weeks spray a little around the plant. A good idea is to save a pump spray from one of your household cleaners, wash it out, fill with the Condy’s spray and use it to spray around the plants. Alternatively, boil onions in water and when cold, sprinkle the strained water around the plants.

If a plague of aphids attacks washing on the line, a yellow plastic bucket, smeared with lanoline, and hung on the line will turn the aphids from the washing to the bucket. Aphids are attracted to yellow. They stick to the lanoline, making it a simple matter to rinse them away with hot water. Another way to rid the washing of aphids is to put the washing into a heavy green garbage bag, make it airtight and leave for several hours. The aphids suffocate and can easily be shaken from the clothes. Putting the washing into a tumble dryer also rids the clothing of aphids, but contain it in a pillowslip or the tumble dryer will be full of dead insects.

AZALEAS

If azaleas are to be planted in a cement tub, the container needs to be treated before planting. Put 125 grams (⅓ oz) of alum into the tub, then fill the tub with cold water and leave for three days to neutralise the lime in the cement.

BANANA SKINS

Don’t throw the skins away. They are good food for staghorn ferns tucked in at the back of the plant. For potted maidenhair ferns, chop up banana skins and mix with the potting mix.

BEANS TO GROW

Seeds won’t germinate if the ground is too cold, but if you want an early crop, sow them indoors in peat moss then plant out when the weather is warmer. In the springtime the seeds will need to be planted only about 2 cm below the surface, but as the hot sun penetrates the soil in summer, plant the seeds 3 cm down. Beans need plenty of water and fertiliser, and yield more if you keep picking when young and succulent.

BIRDS NESTING

Birds can be nuisances, particularly under the eaves of verandahs. To frighten the birds away from the nesting area, strips of aluminium foil can be tied on string and put up. The strips tinkle together as the birds flutter about. The combination of glittering tinsel and the noise will often scare the birds away. Chinese or Japanese “windsongs” can also be used as bird chasers or spray with a bird repellent. For bird droppings on the car, or other paintwork, get it off quickly, with plenty of hot soapy water. Bird droppings can damage paintwork.

BROOM HANDLE

Don’t throw away that old broom. Remove the head and drive a 7.5 centimetre nail firmly into the end of the handle. Walk around the lawn pushing it into the grass. The holes will not be noticeable and will allow the water to penetrate instead of running off the top.

CANVAS MILDEW

Mildew on canvas should be scrubbed with two cups of salt dissolved in about half a bucket of water. If lemons are available put the juice of five or six lemons into the water with the salt. Moss, mildew and rust can all cause disintegration of the fabric which may not be noticeable until the fibres break, so proceed carefully.

CATS

Keep cats away from favourite plants by splashing a little kerosene or cloudy ammonia on a cloth and leaving it on the garden. Another tip that works well is chilli sauce. Sprinkle it around where cats like to go. One sniff and they’ll quickly go somewhere else. Or, hose the cats with the garden hose; it won’t hurt them but they will go elsewhere. Or, spray with a commercial product, available from nurseries and some hardware stores.

CONCRETE

To prepare concrete tubs for plants that may be allergic to lime, put in about 125 grams (4 oz) of alum and fill the tubs with water. Leave for about three days. Empty the tubs and wash them thoroughly before adding soil to plant azaleas, or other plants that don’t tolerate lime.

Moss on concrete can be slippery and very dangerous. To kill moss, use 30 grams (1 oz) of sulphate of iron (available from hardware stores or nurserymen) to 4½ litres (152 fl oz) of water and scrub with a hard broom. Another way to rid paths of moss is to rub crushed butchers salt into the moss. Leave it until the moss dies then sweep with a stiff broom.

For rust on concrete use spirits of salts (obtainable from hardware shops or pharmacists). Cover the rust with spirits of salts, then with sawdust and leave about 12 hours. Use gloves to avoid burning your hands.

Strange but true! Kitty Litter will clean concrete. Dampen the concrete. Spread the litter, leave overnight then brush with a very hard yard broom.

To remove an oil spill on concrete, buy some chalk powder from a hardware store. The amount needed is dependent upon the size of the oil spill. Mix the chalk to a creamy paste with white spirits, or shellite (naptha). Spread the paste over the oil stain, cover it with plastic and leave for a week before brushing it on to a shovel and discarding it. If there is any residual staining, repeat the process. Finally, scrub the area with very hot water and disinfectent liquid. Use about two tablespoons of disinfectent liquid to a quarter bucket of water.

DOG FLEAS

There are a number of herbs that are said to repel fleas. Fennel can be planted around the dog’s kennel if it is an outdoors dog. If the dog lives indoors, fennel can be rubbed into its coat. Pennyroyal rubbed into the skin of the dog, or used in pets bedding is also said to be a good repellent. Commercial products have been tested by experts who add herbal chemicals in amounts that are unlikely to harm your pets, so do take care to watch your dog’s reaction to the herbs you use. It is a good idea to check any herbal remedy with your vet before using it.

DOG PLANT

Coleus canis is a name used in nurseries for an unpleasant smelling, blue-flowered, succulent herb with a reputation for repelling dogs. The specific epithet canis is a misspelling as the species name should be Coleus caninus.

DOOR SCREENS

Sometimes impurities in the atmosphere eat into the finish of a security door. If the door is painted, repaint it, and once the paint is thoroughly dry, spray it regularly with a good silicone car polish. If the door has a metal finish, use a matching colour like a wax colour, available from car accessory shops. If you don’t want to go to that expense, try a matching shoe polish.

EARWIGS

Earwigs come out at night and an easy way to get rid of them is to use folded newspaper or a cardboard box in the garden. Put the newspaper or box in the garden at night, the earwigs will swarm into the paper for their daily rest. When daylight comes, gather the paper or box and burn it, along with the earwigs. Another method is to put pieces of garden hose, about 20 centimetres long where earwigs gather. They will go into the hose and can be knocked out into the incinerator. Burn immediately or use boiling water to kill the insects.

FENNEL

This herb has an aniseed-type flavour and is ideal with fish, salad and spaghetti sauces.

FERNS

Potted ferns are most attractive indoor plants and are also an effective deterrent to flies. Place a hanging basket, or a pot, containing ferns near the door or window where flies come in. It may not stop a really determined fly, but the timid ones will go elsewhere.

GARDEN FURNITURE

White, plastic garden furniture is best cleaned with very hot water, a scrubbing brush and woollen mix. The plastic will not come back to its former, pristine white because heat, cold, rain and sun all cause changes in the plastic. Yellowing will certainly take place, and sometimes, the plastic will become brittle and crack. After cleaning, a softener should be applied. Any good, cream car polish is suitable. If at all possible, store plastic garden furniture indoors, or at least under cover, during the winter months when it is not in use.

GARDEN SPRAYS

• In a bucket of water, put 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt and 1 teaspoon of Condy’s crystals (obtainable from pharmacists). Use as a garden spray for plants, shrubs and vegetables. This spray is non-toxic.

• Garlic spray. Four hot peppers, four big onions, two bulbs of garlic. Crush the peppers, onions and garlic and cover with water, leave up to 24 hours. Strain, and add water to make up 4 litres (135 fl oz). This spray is non-toxic.

• The leaves of rhubarb can be used as a garden spray for vegetables. Roughly chop the leaves and put them into a large saucepan with enough water to more than cover them. Bring to the boil and keep simmering for about twenty minutes. Strain; allow to cool; then bottle. While this is a natural product, it is still highly toxic so it is important to wash vegetables thoroughly before use and use a non-cooking pot.

LIGHTS

For outdoor parties, try punching holes with a nail in an old fruit tin. Secure a candle in the tin. It gives a very soft light and prevents the candles from being snuffed out in the wind.

MASON BEES

Spread kerosene, or wipe with a kerosene saturated cloth, where mason bees are nesting.

POSSUMS

Use a pesticide for possums, such as a bird and animal repellent, particularly for roses and small plants. Follow the instructions on the packet. For fruit trees, light is an excellent possum deterrent, so why not rig the trees with fairy lights? Turn them on when the fruit begins to form and the possums are looking for a smorgasbord.

Tabasco sauce mixed with a water-glue then daubed over the trunk of the trees will also help to deter the possums.

In addition, spray the trees with lapsang souchong tea. Put 125 grams (4 oz) of tea into a bucket, cover the leaves with half a bucket of boiling water. Let it stand, with a cover to retain the aroma, until it is cold. Strain, and use as a spray. Lapsang souchong tea smells like creosote that is unpalatable to possums. It will be necessary to re-spray after rain.

SANDFLIES

A few dabs of citronella on the skin will help to keep sandflies at bay. If you are bitten, equal quantities of cold tea and methylated spirits will ease the itching almost immediately.

SEEDS

To successfully store seeds, it is important that the seeds reach maturity before they are picked from the plant. Spread the seeds to dry either in the sun or in a warm dry room. When thoroughly dry, dust lightly with a good powder fungicide, before storing. Don’t store in containers where sweating is liable to occur.

SLUGS

To rid the garden of slugs without using chemicals, heat some cabbage leaves in the oven or microwave until soft, then coat the leaves with unsalted butter or clean dripping. Put the leaves in the garden where the slugs gather. Once the leaves are covered with slugs, they can be picked up and destroyed

SNAILS

An old-fashioned method of ridding the garden of snails is to mix lime, soot and bran together in equal quantities and sprinkle around the edges of the beds. Lime mixed with salt will also kill snails, but keep the lime away from azaleas.

UMBRELLA

Use a solution of salt and water to remove mould from a canvas umbrella. Scrub all over the umbrella using a soft brush with a solution of approximately two cups of salt to half a bucket of water. The umbrella should be open and it is best to scrub both sides. Leave open until dry.

VERANDAH – WOOD

Clear timber varnish will cover and weatherproof a timber verandah without altering the colour or grain of the wood. It may need two or even three coats, depending on how much use the verandah will get. Any coating will wear off with time but you should get a fairly long life from timber varnish.

WALLS - STAINED

Wasps, swallows and ivy, all leave discolouration on walls. First, try scrubbing with hot water and wool wash (see recipe). If that is not successful, it may be necessary to resort to liquid sugar soap, following the instructions on the bottle, but use at half strength because you only want to remove the stains. Check a small area first to evaluate the effect on the wall.

WASPS

Wasps nest almost anywhere. Spray at night when the wasps have retired. Cover your head with a scarf or see-through curtain. Spray quickly, then leave the area. Repeat the next night if necessary. Some local councils and government authorities have a wasp eradication program and it is a good idea to check this out first.

KITCHEN

When spring is in the air, it is time to think about doing a few of those rotten chores which most of us prefer to forget, such as cleaning the fridge, freezer, dishwasher, and microwave oven. The fridge is probably cleaned regularly but it is easy to miss the seals around the door. They are usually made of soft plastic, often with pleats or ridges that help the door to seal perfectly. Even the smooth seals gather dirt, moisture, and food spills, and if left without cleaning will eventually begin to disintegrate. When this happens, the efficiency of the fridge is affected. A strain is put upon the motor and the whole operation of the fridge becomes more costly. Clean those seals with hot water and dish washing liquid. Stubborn stains can be sprayed with an all purpose cleaner and use an old toothbrush to scrub the pleats and ridges. Dry the seals thoroughly with a thick towel after cleaning.

The freezer is the next job to tackle. Everything should be taken out, the freezer defrosted, cleaned and re-packed. Do this task the day before re-stocking the fridge for the week, thereby leaving plenty of shelf space in the fridge to put things from the freezer. They will stay frozen for the time it takes to clean and defrost the freezer and can be sorted as you put them back. When putting things back into the clean freezer, don’t forget the old adage, “When in doubt, throw it out.” It is not worth poisoning the family or friends for the sake of saving something you’d forgotten about anyway. The seal around the door of the freezer will not take as much effort to clean as the fridge seal because it is not in such continual use. Don’t skip it because it looks okay. The cost of replacing worn out freezer seals is nothing compared with the cost of having to throw out everything from the freezer.

The seal around the oven door is bound to have attracted fat splatters, so wear gloves, use very hot water and any good detergent to clean it. For stubborn stains, spray with your favourite grease remover. For the microwave oven, follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. It is a good idea to leave the microwave oven door open occasionally to get rid of the build-up of cooking staleness. Cloudy ammonia is good for removing grease. Of all the seals to be cleaned in the kitchen, I think the automatic dishwasher is the worst job of all. Mainly because not only do you have to bend down to do the job, but invariably, you finish up with cuts all over your hands, trying to get into the corners. Wear gloves. Or, use a long-handled dish washing brush to clean the seals, then wrap a cloth over the brush to rinse and dry.

Attending to each and every one of the seals in the kitchen is an essential task but don’t tackle them all on the same day.

COOKWARE

The best cookware is the cookware that suits your particular needs. Sets of different sizes will probably suit a family, but may not suit a person who cooks only for one or two people. Good quality stainless steel with a heavy copper bottom will suit both gas and electric cooking.

Aluminium cookware is good at the top of the range, particularly in designer colours. Cast iron cookware is popular but must be tempered before use. Also, it is heavy and becomes heavier with food in it. Before buying, check the weight. Check the handles - they must be firm and comfortable. Check that the base sits flat, and lastly, check the guarantee.

IN THE CLEANING CUPBOARD

Try not to overstock the cleaning cupboard but make sure the essentials for emergency cleaning are always at hand.

Here are ten things for the cleaning cupboard under the sink or in the laundry. With these, you will be able to cope with most stains, on the carpet, clothing or furniture.

• Powdered borax

• Methylated spirits

• Kerosene

• Mineral turpentine

• Ammonia

• household detergent

• Talcum powder

• Eucalyptus

• pen-off

• A solvent (shellite, acetone, white spirit or lacquer thinner)

OUT OF REACH

It is automatic to put things out of the reach of children, but for your own health’s sake, put tea, coffee and other items which are used daily, just beyond your own reach. Once we have grown to adulthood, daily stretching is important for our bodies, as much of our lives are spent stooping, to children, ovens, cleaning, etc. Forget about putting things within easy reach, put the things most used on a shelf where it is necessary to stand on tiptoe and stretch up to get them.

OVEN – GENERAL

Always wipe the oven after each use and while it is still hot. It’s a nuisance that takes a few minutes but will save hours of hard work in the future.

Even with continual wiping, the oven still needs regular cleaning. Heat the oven then turn it off and put a small bowl of cloudy ammonia on the middle shelf and a bowl of hot water on the bottom of the oven. Leave overnight and in the morning, sponge with hot, soapy water. If the treatment is not satisfactory, wring out a cloth in hot water, sprinkle the cloth with cream of tartar and rub the inside of the oven. Very dirty ovens will need to be treated two or three times, and stubborn marks may need a commercial cleaner and steel wool. When using a commercial oven cleaner, read the instructions and follow them carefully. Mr. Muscles All Purpose Cleaner works well.

VEGETABLES

Green-topped vegetables—such as carrots, beetroots and turnips—keep better if the tops are removed before storing. Store them in a brown paper bag, not plastic. The paper absorbs some of the moisture while plastic can make them sweat and quickly deteriorate.

Leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage, are best wrapped in kitchen paper then put in a plastic bag. Keep in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

Most vegetable stains can be removed by sponging with a solution of borax and warm water. Use 2 tablespoons of borax to 1 litre (2 pints) of water. Wring out a cloth in the solution and sponge from the outside edge of the stain to the centre.

WASHING DISHES

If you are machine-washing dishes, make sure the detergent you use is suitable, not only for the machine but also for the dishes.

Do not wash good china that has gold leaf on it in a dishwashing machine. Dark-coloured dinnerware becomes filmy with machine-washing. Put a little methylated spirits onto a soft cloth to rub the film off. Polish any smears away with a soft, dry cloth.

ANGELICA

The leaf of the herb angelica is used in salads. Stalks and stems can be crystallised for cake decoration. Chewing the stems is an old-fashioned remedy for flatulence.

APPLES

To freeze apples, place in a brine solution of 1 teaspoon salt to 1 cup water, for about 10 minutes, then blanch in boiling unsalted water for about 1½ minutes. No sugar is needed but the addition of lemon juice or ascorbic acid powder is a must.

To prevent sliced apples from going brown, squeeze lemon juice over them. If you don’t like the taste of lemon juice, the apple slices can be kept in cold water with a pinch of salt until ready to be cooked.

APPLE – STAIN

Raw apples on clothing can leave a slight brown stain if not sponged off immediately with cold water on a damp cloth. If the stain is dry, dampen slightly then cover with powdered borax and leave for half an hour. If the material is suitable, run hot water through the borax. If not, use warm water.

APRICOTS

To freeze, peel and remove the stones. Always use perfect, unbruised fruit for freezing. Stew or blanch and leave to cool before freezing.

To dry apricots, make a solution with 8 litres (280 fl oz) cold water, 3 cups sugar and 200 grams (7 oz) sodium metabisulphite. Prepare the fruit by washing, slicing in half and removing the stones. Cut out and discard blemishes, or use perfect fruit. Put the fruit into a large container and cover them completely with the solution. Let stand overnight. Remove from the solution and put the fruit, cut side down, on a rack to dry. A warm garage, free of dust, is a good place to dry fruit. If it is to be left in the sun to dry, it should be under a mesh type canopy so that insects and dust do not spoil the fruit. The fruit needs to be turned every four days, or until dry.

To make sugarless apricot jam, stone and cut the fruit, removing any bruises and blemishes. Cover the fruit with water and bring to the boil. Boil hard to reduce the fluid content, then add 1 teaspoon gelatine for each cup of fruit. Without sugar, the gelatine is necessary for setting. This recipe will not have the keeping qualities of normal jam, so make it in small quantities, and store in the refrigerator.

ASPARAGUS

Freeze asparagus using only young spears with tight tips. Break off and discard the tough parts of the stalk; wash, then water blanch for two minutes. Do not use plastic bags for asparagus. A rigid container is best. When cooking asparagus, use a teaspoon of sugar to bring out the flavour. Salt toughens the delicate spears.

ASPIC

A jelly made from meat stock that has been sufficiently reduced by boiling to set firmly when cold. Gelatine may be added to the strained stock. Aspic should be served at room temperature.

AUBERGINE

More commonly known as eggplant, aubergine is often served with meat dishes, sliced and lightly fried in breadcrumbs. They can also be stuffed and served as a side or for a snack-type meal. This vegetable freezes well either sliced or as a puree.

AVOCADO

To ripen avocado fruit, wrap in dry newspaper or in a brown paper bag, and leave in a warm, dry place. An apple, wrapped with the avocado, helps to accelerate ripening. Once the fruit is sufficiently ripe, store in the vegetable section of the refrigerator.

BABY FOOD JARS

Re-sealable baby food jars are not suitable for preserving. The convenience factor of these jars is for the times when baby does not eat the entire contents at one sitting. Serve say, half the contents of the jar then re-seal for use at the next meal. It is not even recommended that uneaten food from baby’s plate be returned to the jar because saliva from the spoon could contain bacteria.

BACON

A good way to keep bacon is to dampen a cloth with vinegar and wrap it around the sliced bacon then put into a plastic bag. If the bacon has been pre-packed, remove it from the plastic packet before wrapping in the cloth. Store in the refrigerator. Change the cloth every few days. White paper towel is just as suitable and a less tedious way to store bacon. There are varying opinions on whether to freeze bacon. It can be done, but is best in small amounts. Put dividers between each rasher and use within 4 weeks.

BACON COOKING TIPS

Dust bacon on both sides with a little plain flour before cooking or, remove the rind first, dust with flour, then fry or bake. The bacon rashers will not curl, and the flour stops the fat from splattering.

BAKING POWDER

Baking powder is a combination of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar. Unless a recipe states otherwise, always sift baking powder and other dry ingredients before adding any liquid. Because baking powder can become stale and lose its potency, it is always best to test before using it. Put a little into some cold water. If it fizzes well, the baking powder is fine to use. If not discard it and open a new tin.

BAY LEAVES

In dried form, bay leaves are readily available; an essential ingredient in bouquet garni and a very good additive to many casseroles and stews. The leaves can be used fresh or dried.

BEANS

There are many varieties of beans, all of which freeze well and are easily grown, even in small gardens.

• Broad beans are podded, like peas, before cooking but don’t discard the pods. Use them for mulch in the garden.

• Dried beans can be a useful commodity to keep in the cupboard and you do not need to resort to the old-fashioned method of soaking them overnight before cooking. A much better way is to place them in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Boil for two minutes, remove from the heat, and allow to stand in the water for one hour, then cook until tender.

• Bean sprouts make a quick, easy-to-grow, tasty vegetable. Special bean sprouters and suitable beans are available at health shops.

• To preserve green beans mix together 500 grams (16 oz) of salt and 250 grams (8 oz) of sugar. Top, tail, and string if necessary, 1 kilogram (32 oz) of fresh, clean, dry beans. Put the beans into an earthenware crock and spread the salt and sugar mixture evenly over them. Cover with a piece of net fabric and leave overnight. The salt and sugar will turn to a brine solution that should completely cover the beans. Now cover with two layers of net fabric and store in a cool place. Use as required by taking out sufficient beans for immediate use, wash them well in very cold water; then cook as usual.

BEETROOT – FREEZING

Cooked beetroot can be kept in the freezer, or the freezing compartment of the refrigerator. Choose firm, young, small beetroot, preferably free from cracks and blemishes. Cut off the tops, leaving just a little of the stem and, don’t remove the root. Wash and boil until tender (about 30 minutes), then remove the skins and root. Small beetroot can be frozen whole. Large ones can be sliced or quartered. Pack in freezer bags or plastic containers.

BLINDS – BONDED

The kitchen usually has a build-up of grease and dust, which collects on blinds. Take the blinds down, cover with a mixture of 1 cup powdered borax, ½ cup of salt and 2 tablespoons of dry-cleaning fluid or shellite (naphtha). Rub the mixture over the blind with the palm of your hand, then brush down with a clean towel. Then, with a towel, dipped in fairly hot water, detergent and a dash of a liquid disinfectent, and wrung out until almost dry, sponge over any other spots. If the blind is too badly stained, reverse it so that the clean part from the top is at the bottom.

BLINDS – HOLLAND

Holland blinds, particularly those over the kitchen sink, often become watermarked or greasy. Watermarks are almost impossible to remove. If sponging with warm water and vinegar does not remove watermarks, invert the blind, putting the top to the bottom. For blinds that have become greasy, take them down and rub all over with warm bran. Let the bran sit on the blinds for an hour or so, brush it off, then sponge with warm soapy water.

BOTTLING

The lacquered lids becoming scratched often causes discolouration at the top of bottled fruit. Get new lids, or cover the fruit with cling film before sealing. Be sure that fruit is completely covered with liquid.

BREAD CRUMBS

Don’t throw away left-over bread. Put slices in a slow oven to dry, then roll the hardened slices into crumbs. Store in an airtight jar. Stale bread can also be put in the food processor, then frozen and used in recipes that require fresh bread crumbs.

BURNT SAUCEPAN

Cover the bottom of the saucepan with oil, then put it on the stove to heat the oil. Stand over the stove while it is heating because the oil should not become smoking hot. Remove it from the heat, let it stand for about fifteen minutes, then tip the oil out and wash the saucepan. Any residual staining can be removed with a cleaning agent or paste while it is still hot, turn the saucepan upside down on the stainless steel bench top. The steam will loosen the burnt matter from the bottom of the saucepan, making it easier to clean. The handle of the saucepan should face into the sink so the pan sits flat and the steam is trapped inside.

BUTTERMILK

A good substitute for buttermilk is plain yoghurt, mixed with low-fat milk.

CAKES

Butter cakes have a tendency to dry, or brown on the bottom. They can be kept moist by putting a dish of water on the bottom of the oven while cooking.

For fruitcakes, two layers of brown paper are needed to line the tin. A layer of salt between the two bottom layers saves the cake from drying and burning. To prevent a fruitcake burning on top, add a layer of brown paper half way through cooking.

Cakes that are sticky when baking is complete are usually the result of the oven temperature being incorrect. Have the thermostat checked.

Your local gas or electricity service department will advise on the cheapest and easiest method for checking the thermostat.

CANDIED PEEL

The peel of citrus fruit can be used as an aromatic condiment. The strong flavour comes from the essential oil contained in the peel and is useful in many different dishes, both sweet and savoury. Chop the peel into thin strips, cover with cold water and slowly bring to boiling point. Drain off the water, add fresh water and repeat this three times. Weigh the peel and add an equal amount of sugar, with just enough boiling water to cover, and simmer until the peel is tender and clear. Cool, drain from the syrup, and spread it out to dry. Roll the strips in sugar, and if they are sticky after 24 hours, roll in sugar once more. See also Dried Peel.

CAST IRON

Cast iron should always be tempered before use. To do this, wipe over with a little oil, sprinkle the inside with salt and allow to heat for about five minutes. Let it cool for another five minutes, then wipe with paper towel to remove the salt and prevent rust. Before putting cast iron utensils away after use, always rub with a little oil. To stack cast iron pans, put paper towel between them to prevent scratching the surface.

CAULIFLOWER

To prevent the smell of cauliflower permeating the house while cooking, put a slice of bread in with the water. Better still, cook cauliflower in the microwave.

CHEESE

To keep cheese, wrap it in a cloth or put it in a screw-top glass jar and keep it in the refrigerator. To keep the cut edge from hardening, rub with a little butter. Another way of storing cheese is to keep it in a plastic container, in the refrigerator, with a couple of sugar lumps in the container. This keeps the cheese mould-free. Try using a potato peeler when slicing cheese for sandwiches. It is more economical and is easier to slice.

CHOKO

To serve as a vegetable, peel the chokos under running water, cut off the ends, halve and remove the seeds. Simmer in salted water until tender and serve with a white sauce or melted butter. Chokos can be frozen. If small they can be blanched whole, and unpeeled, for 2 minutes. Larger chokos should be peeled, cored and cut into quarters. Blanch in 4 cups water to 2 tablespoons lemon juice, for 3 minutes before freezing.

Choko bread, made the same as zucchini bread, is very good.

CHERRIES IN BRANDY

Remove the stalks and wash ¾ kilogram (24 oz) cherries. Put them in basin and add ½ kilogram (17½ oz) sugar. Pour 1 large bottle brandy over the cherries. Stir now and then until the sugar is dissolved; bottle and seal.

Leave for at least four weeks, though a year is better, before using.

The brandy syrup from the cherries can be poured over ice cream or used as a cordial by putting a little in the bottom of a tall glass with some ice. Fill the glass with soda water and add a sprig of mint.

CITRUS FRUIT

To peel citrus fruit quickly and easily, put fruit into hot water for five minutes before peeling. Citrus peel is a most useful flavouring. Peel very thinly, with a sharp knife or a potato peeler so that none of the pith is included. Put into a food processor and after processing store in plastic bags. Make sure the air is taken out of the bags and freeze for flavouring jams, cakes, etc. A pinch or two added to curry enhances the flavour.

To dry citrus peel, use a potato peeler to peel the fruit, cut it into thin slivers and dry in the oven at low temperature, or in the microwave on defrost for about 20 minutes, or until dry.

Store in airtight jars and use to decorate cakes, or in casseroles and stews.

CLOTTED CREAM

To make clotted cream, put the cream into a basin and put the basin into a pan of boiling water. Let the water simmer until the cream clots. Clotted cream must be done slowly and you must not stir it. When the cream has finished clotting it will still be slightly runny but it thickens as it becomes cold.

Another method that I find very satisfactory, if you have a microwave, is to just pop the cream into a bowl, leaving plenty of space at the top of the bowl. Don’t overfill it. Put the microwave onto slow setting, such as defrost. Two cups of cream will take about 25 minutes to clot.

CONDENSED MILK

To make condensed milk, dissolve 1¾ cups of sugar in 1 cup of boiling water. Let it cool, then stir in, until smooth, two cups of full cream instant milk powder. Store in jars in the refrigerator.

COPPER

Bench tops covered with copper are usually surface coated and should only need to be washed with soap and water then buffed up with a soft, dry cloth. Use a commercial product to give a fine polish to the copper bench tops. Once polished, use another product to protect the surface and save all that hard work.

CRACKLING

For crisp crackling when baking pork, rub the rind with a little plain flour and seasoned salt prior to cooking. For the first 15 to 20 minutes cooking, turn the temperature to high. After the meat is cooked, put it in the top of the oven and turn the thermostat back to a high temperature again for a few minutes.

CROUTONS

Generally used as a garnish for soup, croutons are made by dicing about 3-day-old bread into small squares. Saute on all sides in sizzling hot butter until delicately brown and crisp.

CRUMBED

It is most frustrating to go to a lot of trouble to cook crumbed meat, fish, etc. only to find the crumbing parts company with the meat. This can be avoided by dusting the meat with flour before dipping in egg and breadcrumbs. Adding a few herbs to the crumb or flour and serving with a little lemon juice is a tasty trick that adds to the flavour.

CRYSTAL AND GLASS

Glass and crystal that develops a cloudy, or milky appearance, is usually a dishwasher induced problem. It does not happen with the first, second, or third time of washing. Glass or crystal can be washed in a dishwasher for years and come out looking more sparkling than when they were originally purchased. But over time, the mineral content of the water, combined with dish washing powder released under pressure, pounds the glass and crystal until it becomes frosted, or etched. Some tests have been done to reverse the condition with acid, but it is not a viable proposition at present. Precious glassware or crystal is best washed by hand in hot, soapy, water, rinsed in the same temperature water, then dried with a soft, clean, non-fluffy tea towel.

CUMQUAT MARMALADE

The word cumquat has the alternative spelling of kumquat so it is advisable to look under both letters when searching for a recipe. When harvesting the fruit, cut the cumquats from the tree with secateurs or scissors, leaving a small stalk. Wash the fruit in cold, salted water to remove or kill any insects or their eggs. Drain, and remove the stalks. Cut the fruit in half around the middle and flick out the pips. Then cut the fruit finely, and put it into a plastic or earthenware bowl. Add sufficient cold water to just cover the fruit and leave for about 12 hours. Now measure the mixture by cup and add a little over ⅔ cup of sugar to each cup of the pulp. Put in a small nob of butter to prevent frothing and boil, or microwave until the mixture sets when tested with a metal spoon. I do small quantities in the microwave, by cooking on high until the mixture is at the boil, then I cook on simmer until it sets. It is no quicker than boiling on the stove, but the colour is much better.

To test with a metal spoon, dip the spoon into the boiling marmalade then hold it sideways over the cooking vessel. At first the mixture will run, or drip, from the centre, or lowest point, of the spoon. Cooking is complete when the mixture drips in three separate spots along the edge of the spoon. If you want to microwave, don’t fill the cooking utensil to more than one-third.

CUPS

Tea and coffee can stain cups. The stain is easily removed by rubbing the inside quite firmly using your fingers, with either plain salt, or a mixture of salt and lemon juice. If lemons are scarce, use salt and vinegar. Denture powder in water is also very good.

CUSTARD

If custard curdles during cooking, remove it from the saucepan, add a little cold water and whisk firmly. Finish cooking if necessary.

CUTLERY HANDLES

Cutlery handles made of ivory or bone should never be washed in hot water. Both will yellow with age, but hot water intensifies the yellow. If trying to whiten ivory or bone handles, first clean them with powdered whiting mixed to a paste with lemon juice. To whiten the handles, stand them in a glass of ½ water and ½ bleach for 12 hours. Then rub the handles with toothpaste. Dry and polish with talcum powder. Be careful not to let bleach solution cover the join where the handles meet the blade. It may weaken the adhesive.

CUTTING BOARD

Wooden cutting boards have a tendency to absorb flavours. They can be freshened by saturating a kitchen sponge with cold water and a little bleach. Rub the surface for a minute or so and then run hot water over it to get rid of the bleach smell or rub the board over with a lemon cut in half. White cutting boards can be cleaned with toothpaste. Always wash cutting boards in the dishwasher or in very hot water.

DAMP FOOD