To Support Window Sashes. — To support window sashes not provided with sash lines and pulleys, obtain a number of ordinary bottle corks and a bit or an auger of the same size. Bore three or four holes in the side of the sash and insert a piece of cork in each of these, letting it project just enough to rub against the groove of the window frame. The elasticity of the corks will admit of the window being raised, but the pressure will be sufficient to support the sash at any desired height. Renew the corks as often as necessary.
To Lubricate Window Sashes.—To lubricate a window sash that rubs or swells in damp weather so that it can not be raised and lowered readily, slush freely with common yellow soap the edge of the sash and the groove in which it runs. This may be done by moistening the soap and rubbing it over the parts, or by dissolving the soap in its own bulk of water, and applying the soap jelly with a brush.
Or use a wax candle instead of soap.
To Prevent Window Bashes from Rattling.—A half of a clothespin will cure temporarily the rattling of a window sash.
To Restore Window Glass.—To re store the transparency of window glass that has become dingy by ex posure to the elements, rub with di lute muriatic acid, 1 part of acid to 10 parts of water, and polish with a moist cloth dipped in whiting.
To Keep Doors Open.—Cover a com mon red brick with cretonne, carpet, or any suitable material to match the floor covering, and have a number of these weights about the house to place against the doors and keep them open.
To Prevent Doors from Creaking. —Dip a feather in oil and apply to the hinges.
Or rub on a piece of soap.
Or mix equal parts of soap, lard, and black lead, and apply with the point of a lead pencil or in melted form by means of a small brush.
Burglar-proof Lock. — Lock the door, leave the key in the lock, and keep it there by means of a heavy copper wire 11 inches long bent in the shape of a hairpin. Put this over the spindle back of the knob, with the ends down through the head of the key. The key cannot then be pushed out or turned by a burglar's tool or another key inserted from the out side. This is a convenient device for a traveler to use in hotels, where du plicate keys are often issued to ser vants and others.
Or one end of the wire may be fas tened to the casement by means of a staple, and the other end formed into a hook to hold the key in position.
Or an ordinary hook may be used for this purpose.
Skeleton Key.—Obtain from a lock smith a skeleton key similar to the keys used by burglars and furnished to employees of hotels whose duties require them to have admission to all the rooms. This will be exceedingly convenient when other keys are lost or mislaid.
To Fit Keys.-,-To fit an old key or a blank to replace a key that has been lost, hold the key to be fitted in the flame of a candle until it is thorough ly blackened, insert it carefully in the lock, and turn it until it strikes the wards. Withdraw the key and file away the parts where the soot has been rubbed off by the wards.