How To Smooth Irons

To Smooth Irons that will sometimes stick unaccountably, rub over a board sprinkled with fine salt. Then pass over a brown paper with bees-wax in its folds, wipe off with a cloth, and everything will go smoothly. Irons should be taken off the stove when not in use. Continual warmth ruins the temper and prevents their retaining heat.

How To Keep Starch

To Keep Starch from Scumming when taken from the fire, cover it closely.

Gum Arabic In Starch

Dissolve in hot water first. Will give a newness to lawns, either black or colored, that nothing else can equal. A little is also nice for white muslins. The gum may be dissolved and kept for use in a bottle.

Solution

2 ounces to a pint of boiling water. Use a tablespoonful to a pint of starch.

Borax in Starch is used by some. Dissolve a lump in boiling water and put in cold starch. The whiteness and stiffness resulting will be very gratifying.

Flour Starch

Take 2 tablespoonfuls of flour. Make smooth with cold water, then turn in boiling water until it is the proper consistency, add ½ teaspoonful lard and let boil three or five minutes.