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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 10 (January 1, 1936)

Hints For The Home Laundress

Hints For The Home Laundress.

Tennis Flannels.

If a little care is taken, tennis flannels can be laundered at home without fear of shrinking. The best way to make a soap solution is to cut the soap up finely and put into a saucepan with boiling water. Keep boiling until the soap is thoroughly dissolved and then stand aside to cool. From this jelly prepare your solution for the flannels and allow them to soak thoroughly before kneading and squeezing; on no account rub, as this destroys the soft surface.

When this water has become dirty put the flannels into another fresh warm solution and continue the same process of kneading, etc., and when clean rinse three or four times in warm water. Then shake well and hang out to dry in a good breezy, shady place.

Stains.

Mud must be brushed off carefully when dry, and any remaining marks should then be covered with a fine paste of methylated spirit and pipeclay, or, for more obstinate stains, use boracic acid and ammonia. This should be allowed to dry and then brushed off.

Grass stains are removed by gently sponging them with a weak ammonia solution.

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Holiday Relaxation.

Now that the Christmas and New Year excitement is over a number of families are planning a fortnight's camping at the seaside, the country, or at one of the many ideal camping grounds that are growing up in various convenient places in New Zealand, where a family can be transplanted and life moves on very easily and comfortably for the mother—and the father—if the children will take their share of the work. This is the time when the children can come to the help of the mother, who has had all the planning of the home—and often mostly all the work—for the past year or more. Camp life is ideal for the children, but mother—taking with her the burden of cooking the meals—longs for the time when on holiday bent she is able to afford the luxury of a first-class hotel, and makes a firm resolve that this is the last time she will be cajoled into a camping holiday, although perhaps it is the only one that they can afford.

…………..

How different camp life would be if it were operated as a joint concern, with a schedule of duties drawn up, involving the preparation beforehand as well as the actual work at the camp. I know of an instance where the mother went on strike and absolutely refused to entertain the idea of another holiday where she alone seemed to have to put up with the inconveniences incidental to camp life.

The family was staggered by mother's attitude, but after consideration, Mary (aged sixteen) saw her mother's point of view and, talking matters over with Jack (fourteen), they drew up a plan which they submitted to their mother. They were to take charge of the two younger children—eleven and seven—and sought her co-operation in the planning of the meals. Mother, realising that this camp promised a certain amount of relaxation for her, readily consented to withdraw her opposition, and amongst them they planned the following meals, which contained all the nourishment necessary for a healthy existence and with a minimum of work:

Breakfast: Citrus fruit or dessert prunes; “Ready-to-eat” cereals; wholemeal bread; butter; marmalade; coffee or tea.