Vintage, My Grandmother's Household Hints

Grandmother and Grandfather's  Wedding picture.

I find old stuff fascinating and will usually always give it a second glance.  There is something comforting about the tried and true.  Conversely I am generally a bit more skeptical about the new and improved.  Wonder if it is because we live in the time of recalls, and it is OK to eat eggs after all? 

When a new product comes to town rather than rushing out to purchase my attitude is, "lets wait a while until they figure out all of the kinks."

I must admit to having gone back and looked at this old cook book and the helpful hints pages more than a few times.  It was given to me by my Grandmother in 1975 and is signed with love.  She was head cook at the grade school in Dubois, Indiana and belonged to the Dubois County Extension  Homemakers Club.  This was their cookbook, titled "Here's What's Cookin'".

Toward the back of this 1 1/2" thick soft bound tattered green book lives selections called The Household Hints, some of which are outdated but that too holds my interest as it is a measure of a change in culture, a change in values, and a change of times.  So I have been thinking for a time I might share these with you on the off chance someone else may enjoy or find them interesting, novel, or entertaining.

1." Use Borax to get rid of cockroaches that come in during the early spring."  (Nowadays you call a pest control company and they spray.  Who knew??)

2." Use newspaper to absorb odors in refrigerator or freezer after washing with soda solution.

3.  Take baking soda on camping trips for bee stings and also for extinguishing fire when a Colman lantern bursts into flames.  Also can substitute for toothpaste. 

4.  Use a plastic dishwashing liquid bottle to hold liquid detergent to squeeze on colors, spots before laundering.   Not nearly as messy as using a cup.

5.  To remove onion smell from hands, rub hands with pure vinegar before rinsing or washing.  After rubbing vinegar into the skin thoroughly,  wash with soap and water.

6.  When washing windows always wash one way on one side and the opposite on the other side.  That way you can always see what side isn't clean.

7.  For making small amounts of soap, instead of waiting to accumulate a lot of grease (rancid fats don't make good soap anyway):   Recipe for a bar:  Always use a wooden stick or spoon and a granite-ware or crock.  Measure 1/2 cup clean lukewarm fat into a clean plastic container.  In another container, measure 1/4 cup of cold water.  Add one tablespoon of lye,  stirring with wooden spoon to dissolve.  Then, with the same spoon stir in fat slowly as you add lye solution.  Stir to the consistency of pudding.  At this time, you may add one tablespoon of lanolin, rose water, cologne, or lemon juice to give it a pleasant aroma.  (Lanolin is gentle to the skin.)   Pour into a plastic container;  cover the top with plastic wrap.  Put away undisturbed for 24 hours.  After removing, let ripen for about 2 weeks."

These are but a few, I hope you enjoyed a glance back in time.