Words of wisdom Helpful hacks from the CWA

THE COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA SHARES EVERGREEN TIPS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

1 MAKE YOUR KITCHEN SPARKLE

WHITE VINEGAR AND EUCALYPTUS OIL ARE GOOD GENERAL DISINFECTANTS.

TO CLEAN PAINTED CUPBOARD DOORS, USE 1 TABLESPOON BORAX DISSOLVED IN BOILING WATER TO MAKE SOAPY WATER.

2 BAKE LIKE A PRO

+ To prevent the top of a cake cracking, lightly brush it with water before baking. Bad cracking means your oven was too hot.

+ If a butter or fruit cake appears a little overcooked and dry when you take it out of the oven, place a thick, folded towel over the top of the cake as it cools.

+ A few drops of glycerine added to egg whites while you are beating will make them firm.

+ When making a sponge, heat the sugar in a covered dish in the preheating oven, while you are weighing out other ingredients, then tip it on the eggs. This halves the beating time and makes a lighter sponge. + Marshmallows make great candle holders on birthday cakes – they prevent wax running onto the cake.

3 WHIP UP ROYAL MELBOURNE SCONES

4 cups self-raising flour, sifted

1 good pinch of salt

300ml milk

300ml cream

Mix all the ingredients together and gently knead. Cut with a scone cutter – don’t twist the cutter or you will get ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ scones. Place on a lined baking tray and bake in a hot oven for 12 minutes or until well risen and hollow sounding when tapped on the bottom.

To clean rust from pots and pans, use a bit of tomato paste and lemon juice. GENTLY SCRUB WITH A SCOURER AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE THE ACID MAKES. THEY’LL LOOK AS GOOD AS NEW.

4 LIVING ROOMS TO LOVE

Olive oil or eucalyptus oil will remove spots from leather furniture.

To clean cane furniture, wash with lukewarm, salted water, rinse and dry, then gently rub over with linseed oil.

If flies bother you in your house, hang bunches of mint in different rooms. This will drive the flies away and leave your house with a garden-fresh smell.

5 ALLPURPOSE FLOOR CLEANER

Mix together 1 cup white vinegar, ½ cup cloudy ammonia, 1 cup washing soda, a few drops lavender oil (optional) and 2 litres hot water in a bucket, then use to mop floors.

6 GIVE YOUR INDOOR PLANTS AN OCCASIONAL DRINK OF COLD BLACK TEA AND THEY WILL THRIVE. 7 SOLVE STAINS FOR GOOD

+ Beetroot Place a saucer of cold water under the stain and a slice of bread on top. The moistened bread will absorb the stain, then wash the article in the usual way. + Ballpoint pen Squeeze lemon juice onto the stain, leave for a while, then wash normally. Methylated spirits can also be rubbed into the stain to remove it.

+ Grass Soak the stains in glycerine or eucalyptus oil for at least 1 hour before washing. Or wet the stain and sprinkle with sugar. Roll up and leave for 1 hour, then wash as usual.