Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-11
The HOusekceper.

HINTs ON Housr-cIEANING.-Ont the COM
mcpcement of April the wifes duties increase
in anticipation, for preparations must oe ,utue
for house cleaning; and when that comes e cry
closet, drawer corner piece bag, etc, must be
ransacked, overlooked and cleared uP LOT the
coming summer. Carpets must ne taken up anu
shaken, beds well beaten, and bedsteads washed
with strong brine TO destroy all insects, etc.
Tedledres after using, ii saved for week or so,
stepped III a bucket OF pan Oh water LOT nan
an hour, strain through seiSe and use Tue
tea or tea-vater to wash all vanished paint
Ii requires very little rubbing AS the tea acts as
a strong detergent, cleaslng the paint from It's
impurities, anu making the yarnlsh shiee again;
IL also cleanses Window-sashes and oii-cloths-
indeed apy vanished surface is Improved by it's
application. Ii washes window panes and mil
rors much better than soap and water, and Is
excellent for cleansing black walnut pictur''
and looking glass frames. Ii Will not do TO wash
unyarnished paints with il. Whiting Is une-
qualed TOR cleansing white paint. Take a small
quantity Of whiting on damp hanbel,. rub
lightly over the surface, ana tne enect VIII Dc
surprising. Wallpapers are readily cieansej
by tying a soft cloth over u broom, and sweep
ing down the walls carefully. then follow
with light rubbing of stale bread Tn
dust and ashes OF stoves, CRATES and fur
naces are deposited in every crack and creyice
OF our rooms, and require v -llsn' and active
treatment for their removal. Carpets absorb
great quantities of them. Those who can afford
it should use mating during summer--it i
cleaner and cooler; or even an entirely bar
floor is most agreeable i'll hot Weather, and thu,
three months wear and tear may be save |. Old
feather beds, pillows and holsters are ,rea lv
improved by putting them on "A clean grass y OF
and beating them thoroughly for an hour or 80
with long pliable sticks or canes, turning them
Oh every sid.
House cleaners hired for the purpose are fat =
quently careless in handling fine furniture, pic
lures and valuable small articles. These should
not be left 10 them If possible. They are igno-
rant of their value, and Oftentlmcs do a great
deal of damage, which they have no idea of
making good, a. they ought to be compelled to
do. They know how to scrub, wash, brush and
sweep, but little else, and pay but little regard
to things, if in their wav in their violent efforts.
Here it Is where the wife comes i'm with her SUI
perintendcnce, but she should give careful in
structions at the beginning.
Protection Agatnst Moth.-We have every spring
many modes offered OF protecting furs and wool
ems against the destructive attacks Of the moth
during warm weather. We have seen various
preparations sold for this purpose, with long ac-
counts appended of their being perfect reme-
dies. Red cedar chefts and closets are recon-
mended, and many people cumber their houses
out how grlev0nsy they have been disappointed.
The best protection We ever tried has been to
tie APP in close cotton bags all furs and wOollens
al All convenient to be so treated, after giving
them a thorough shaking and cleansing, and
letting them there until they are again wanted
These bags can be hung anywhere out Of the
way. If there are no moths i'm the articles when
tied up there certainly can none get in after
ward if the bags are sound. All can see that.
But when the clothes or articles are too numer-
Gus to make this convenient or desirable, hang
up in the wardrobe, after a good shaking out,
and place little bags of camphOr all over the
wardrobe, laying a few in the bottom. Then,
and shake them up well. No moth will ever dis
turb them prmInt0fCu Tslp1rdnb.