Cookery for every household

Cake Tins. — Cake tins, like omelet pans, should not be washed oftener than is necessary. If they have been lined with paper, a good rub with unprinted paper or with a dry cloth should be quite sufficient to clean them. When they do require washing, see that they are thoroughly dry before being laid away, as they are very liable to rust. They should be put on the rack above the stove or in a cool oven for a short time. Tin Lids, Moulds, and Dish Covers. — Hot water with a little soap powder or plain soap should be used for washing these. They must be well rinsed and then dried at once. Saucepan lids should be washed, or at least well wiped with a cloth each time after use. The rim must have special attention, as any grease from a stew or such-like will lodge there. It is a good plan to give all saucepan lids a good washing once a week. A brush may be used when washing fancy moulds of any kind. When the insides become difficult to clean the moulds should be put into a saucepan with hot water and a little soda, and boiled for half an hour. This will loosen any matter or burnt pieces which may adhere to them. They may also be scoured with a little silver sand, or Brooke’s soap may be used to remove any discoloration. Thorough rinsing will be necessary. All tinned goods must be well dried before being put away, as they are liable to rust. Tins that are put up for show may be polished to make them look bright, but this should never be attempted before making sure that they are quite free from grease. Make a smooth paste with whitening and water — rub this on the tins with a piece of flannel, and when dry, rub off with a duster. A soft brush may be used to remove the whitening from any corners. A few drops of ammonia may be added to the whitening, but as the tinning of some moulds and lids is very thin, strong cleansers should, as a rule, be avoided. The inside of moulds should never be polished. Sieves.— A sieve should be cleaned as soon as possible after it has been used. If any substance is allowed to harden on it the cleaning will be much more difficult. Wash thoroughly with a little hot water and soda and scrub well with a brush. If it is a wire sieve, hold it up to the light and see that none of the little holes are. blocked up. Be particular also to scrub round the sides where the rim joins the surface part. Rinse well and dry with a strong cloth. The sieve should then be put in a warm place or at an open window to dry. If this is not attended to a wire sieve will become rusty and a hair one coated with mildew. Sieves must always be kept in a dry and clean place. Pudding Cloths. — After a pudding cloth has been used it should be thrown into hot water with a little soda in it and allowed to soak for half an hour or so. Then wash out and rinse with care until no trace of the soda water remains. Dry in the open air if possible. Fold up carefully and keep in a clean place. A pudding cloth must only be used for its own special purpose. If the above process is not enough to make the cloth clean it ought to be boiled in a saucepan for half an hour with hot water and a small piece of soda, and then rinsed in the same way. The use of soap and soap powder should be avoided if possible. Jelly Cloths and Tammy Cloths. — Wash in the same way as pudding cloths.