---

Cleaning Kitchen Odds And Ends

Cleaning Kitchen Odds And Ends

 

If you are lucky enough to get hold of either The Cyclopedia of Universal Knowledge printed in the USA in 1891, or else the selection of advice and advice collected and edited from this in Remedies, Potions and Razzmatazz by Don Roberts, you are in for a treat of advice and amusement. For those who aren't so lucky to find these books, here is a summary of some household tips from 1891.

Kitchens have long been the centre of the home, and that was no exception in 1891. While their kitchens weren't quite as full of electric gadgets, chrome or even linoleum (hard oiled wood was the recommended flooring in kitchens), they still knew the importance of keeping kitchens and kitchen implements clean and sparkling. Here's some of the ways they did it:

• To prevent tea-kettles becoming encrusted inside, keep an oyster shell inside it. The theory is that the shell will attract all the particles so the particles don't end up coating the kettle. To clean the outside (presumably) of a tea kettle, wipe it with kerosene (and presumably rinse the kerosene off afterwards).

• Make a special silver soap for cleaning silver articles by mixing half a pound of soap, 3T of turpentine (preferably the plant-sourced type) and half a glass of water. After boiling this for ten minutes, add 6T of "spirits of hartshorn" (known today as ammonium carbonate). This soapy, bubbly liquid should be used to wash silver items.

• Brass kettles can be cleaned with a mixture of salt and vinegar rubbed on as a paste then wiped off.

• For steel and iron that isn't stainless, you can keep it from rusting by a good wipe with kerosene before storing it. This technique was not only recommended for stoves that were not going to be used over summer (we tend to forget nowadays what having a coal-fired stove in the kitchen would have been like during summer heat), and also for farm/garden implements that are going to be stored unused for a while.

• The standard method of cleaning out bottles by swirling lead shot around inside them was not recommended, because of the risk of lead poisoning, especially if one of the pellets got stuck inside a bottle or decanter that would be used for alcoholic drinks that could dissolve the lead. Instead, warm water and wood ash was recommended as the mixture to shake around inside a bottle before storing its upside down and open before use, or else chopped raw potato and water. Modern people can still try the first trick, but substituting steel shot or (grease-free) ball bearings instead of lead.

• Most modern people would prefer to stay away from the advice given for cleaning porcelain china: strong acid, either sulphuric or hydrochloric. While strong acids and alkalis are used to scour milking machines in commercial dairy operations, most households would prefer to avoid these dangerous and corrosive chemicals – although dishwasher powder is pretty rough. It's better to stick to hot soapy water.

• To clean glass, the book suggests that cold water is better for cleaning glassware, as it gives a more sparkling finish.

• Knives that are going to be stored away for some time should be cleaned and dried thoroughly, then dusted with wood ash and rolled up in paper for storage.

• The idea of reusing and recycling isn't new. The book suggests several kitchen uses for used paper. The first of these is to use it for window cleaning and glass cleaning, and to buff up and dry cutlery (sounds like paper towels – but who says you can't use old newspaper for this?). Brown paper is ideal to wrap around pickle and jam jars, or for sealing the tops. The other uses for old, used papers in the book are a bit more out of the ordinary, such as using it as carpet underlay, or even making a type of flooring by gluing many newspapers together onto the floor then wallpapering over the top. Reminiscent of the stereotype of a tramp on a park bench, the book also suggests using paper as an extra layer of bedding during winter, and putting a folded newspaper down your front when riding in cold windy weather (presumably, they meant putting newspaper down your waistcoat while riding a horse, but it would work inside a jacket while biking, too).

While it isn't so much a kitchen cleaning tip, the recipe given for making your own chewing gum is one that needs passing. The mixture calls for 2 oz "balsam of tolu" (a type of balsam of Peru with vanilla and cinnamon flavours), 1 oz white sugar and 3 oz oatmeal. Soften the balsam in water, then mix the other ingredients in. Shape and roll in icing sugar. Worth a try if you can get balsam of tolu or balsam of Peru.

Find More Waistcoat Articles

---

Eccentric Celebrity Styles: Male Stars Who Top the List

Eccentric Celebrity Styles: Male Stars Who Top the List

We've seen it time and again, and we're sure to see it even more in the future: eccentric celebrity style is here to stay. Indeed, every form of media these days - whether it's television, radio, internet, or print media - seems to cover some aspect of celebrity style, branding stars, for instance, as best or worst dressed. But if there's one category of fashion that truly draws the media's - and public's - attention, it's the downright eccentric. Stars have long been playing the eccentric card - and why not? It gets them noticed, and puts their name on people's lips. But while some stars have managed to incorporate eccentricity into their image, others undoubtedly flop with their unusual fashion sense. What's more, while female celebs seem to have the majority of the fashion police after them, male stars certainly aren't exempt from the process.

So, which male stars have eccentricity on their side, and which should consider hiring more conventionally-minded stylists? There's no better place to find both than in the music industry. Some of music's biggest names are now famed for more than just their music - among them, Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne, Prince, Marilyn Manson, T-Pain, and the late Michael Jackson. But, while many of these musicians are partly "made" by their outlandish stage styles - somewhat justifying an bizarre fashion off the stage too - other music celebs can't claim the same. Chris Daughtry, for example, was spotted at a Grammy awards show in head-to-toe leather - a look that's definitely not "necessary" for his art. Rapper Snoop Dogg arrived at the same prestigious ceremony in a shiny suit and aviator glasses, resembling an astronaut more than a musician. And the latest offender in the category is none other than Adam Lambert, who was seen donning a Goth-meets-sparkle number at the 2010 Grammy awards.

However, musicians aren't the only ones guilty of eccentric fashion gone wrong. Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp certainly fall into this category, leaving the public applauding their acting skills, yet scratching their heads at their bizarre fashion choices. Robert Downey Jr, for example, has attracted baffled stares at his choice in footwear – and on more than one occasion. And Johnny Depp, while considered to be one of the most attractive male stars in Hollywood, often opts for the frumpy look. English comedian and actor Russel Brand is another celeb who exemplifies the term "eccentric". Typically in skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, and a waistcoat at a "smart" event, Brand always has heads turning with his rock star-reminiscent style (fully equipped with a colourful array of eccentric mens hoodies). However, like Elton, Ozzy, and Marilyn, Russel Brand's style works in favour of his distinctive image – translated: his often-strange fashion choices are usually met with more leniency.

---

History of the Cardigan Sweater

History of the Cardigan Sweater

While styles come and go, some clothing items endure and remain a popular wardrobe staple from generation to generation.  Cardigan sweaters for women definitely fit into this category.  From the 1800's when the Earl of Cardigan's knitted waistcoat was catapulted to fame due to his heroics in the Crimean War, to Lana Turner displaying her assets in a tight sweater, the cardigan sweater has been a part of cultural icons for decades.

While cardigan sweaters come in many styles, the basic elements of the garment remain the same:  a knitted sweater that is either buttoned, zipped or tied in the front.  The cardigan's initial purpose was to add extra warmth during the frigid winter campaigns of the Crimean War.  Today, cardigans are not worn on battlegrounds; however, they make a common appearance in everyday settings such as work and school.  This is partly due to the ease with which the sweater allows the wearer to layer clothing for warmth and remove it when not needed.

Another reason for the enduring popularity of this sweater type is the fact that it is so versatile and comes in so many styles, ranging from casual to formal.  The 50's saw a huge surge in popularity of the cardigan with twinsets which featured an underlying sweater shell with a matching outer cardigan.  Some of these twinsets were made of luxurious materials such as cashmere and were elaborately decorated.  They were beaded, embroidered, embellished and applicaed.    Beautiful examples of this wardrobe item are featured in many fashion museums.

Today there is more of a variety than ever in cardigan sweaters.    One would be hard pressed to find a fashion designer, from couture to ready-to-wear, that has not included a cardigan in at least one line.  In fact, many designers feature cardigan sweaters in every line they produce, sometimes multiple styles in every collection. Designers love the versatility of the sweater which can be combined with multiple pieces in the collection.

The cardigan sweater is a fashion favorite for women in all walks of life.  From the struggling college student throwing on a Target brand basic to ward of the chill while walking to class, to the career woman that adds a cardigan to mix and match in her wardrobe, to the socialite with a twinset for her weekly lunch, it is a clothing style that works for all.  Whatever your life situation,  a cardigan sweater is an essential basic to any wardrobe.

More Waistcoat Articles

---

Pirate Shirt and Costumes Fashion

Pirate Shirt and Costumes Fashion

Pirate Shirt or over-the-pirate boots are indispensable to create perfect pirate fashion costumes that have always been a fascination for the masses for their kind of adventurous looks. Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Hook, two well-known pirates of their times, are imitated even today for their different style of pirate clothing- a constituent of the renaissance clothing or medieval dresses.

During renaissance, medieval and pirate era, pirates used to wear boots made of a variety of strong leathers. Pirates preferred flat or short heel boots during their dangerous and long sea voyages as that kind of boots were very helpful to them in dangerous acts such as battles. Moreover, much of the pirate clothing was developed through necessity and befitted the lifestyle of a pirate seaman.

The craze for