Oily Rag: Creepy critters and soapy issues

Creepy critters and soapy issues
By Frank and Muriel Newman

Temperatures are on the way down and our daylight hours are about to get one hour shorter. This has created an unusual problem for Paul from Northland who has this question: "The colder weather is bringing uninvited guests into the house - rats, mice and ants! I do not want to use expensive poisons. Does anyone have any suggestions how I can keep these pesky critters out of the house?"

Margaret from Invercargill has a tip. “A remedy for aches and pains (that also removes toxins from the body) is to sprinkle one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of epsom salts into a warm bath. A good soak really works.”

She also has a question, “Does anyone have a recipe for making soap?”

That question reminds us of a great soapy yarn (and warning) as told by a young onlooker. It is one we have written about before but it's worth repeating!

Dad had one of his bright ideas. The idea wasn't original, but it was for Dad - he didn't have bright ideas very often! Off to the local library he went. Back he came with an Aunt Daisy soap-making recipe. As proud as a peacock at a garden party, he said he was going to show us all how to make soap, and in the process show us how clever he was.

Off to the kitchen he went. That was strange enough in itself - to see Dad clanging pots and pans was a real sight. We peeped through the outside window. Dad pretended not to notice.

For the record here is Aunt Daisy’s soap-making recipe: 5 lb clean fat; 1 tin caustic soda; 1 lb resin; 1 small packet soap-flakes; and 30 cups of water. Put all the ingredients into a kerosene tin and begin to heat. When nearly boiling watch carefully, and when it just comes to the boil, take it off the heat and put it outside. Stir often while cooling.

Ray from Tauranga has this suggestion for soap. “When your soap is too small to use don’t throw it out. Save it in a dish and when you have what you think is enough, finely chop up the pieces, place into an old saucepan, add water and bring to a boil. Stir and simmer, then pour into blocks and let it cool. There you have it – more soap!”

Thank you for your questions and tips – please keep them coming! You can send in your ideas and join the Oily Rag mailing list, by visiting www.oilyrag.co.nz - or you can write to us at Living Off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

*Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living Off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Read our wealth of tips at www.oilyrag.co.nz.

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