National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-26
THE HONE.
FALL HOUSE CLEkNING-LADIEs AND
VINEGAR-WAsUIEG- HOUSEHOLD
HTNTS-USEFUL RECEIPTS.

MISUNDERSTANDING HOUSEHOLD
HINTs-UsEFUL RECEIPTS.
PAIL HOUSE CLEANING.
The New York Tines gives the following
hints as to how to make fan house cleaning
easy. 1t says: We must have all ;he carpets
taken up at once, and the whole house in an
uproar, but only devote two days in a week
to the operation, or, if more desirable, only
one. For instance, take Thursday as the
cleaning day, and commence with the attic.
Sweep It thoroughly, first brushing down all
its walls, and destroying all Of the spiders
and wasps' nests that can be found. Wash
the windows with weak tea, having saved all
the leaves used during the week, and then
boiled them for half an hour. This liquid will
cleanse glass and vanished paint far better
than sOap-suds, as It gives them q very bright
appearance, If rats and mice Turk in the
attic scatter copperss all about the corners of
it, and put dishes of it filed up with water
about the room. Copperas is the very best
disinfectant known for bathrooms and all
places that require to be kept pure, and It will
also keep away all kinds of vermin. If cellars
are infested with rats and mice a liberal coat
of hme-wash, made yellow with eopperas or
intruders, besides making the air of the cellar
very pure. If the attic is cleaned one day the
next day can be given to two or more cham
bers, and If the nails are withdrawn from the
carpets the night preyiOusit expedites the work
the next morning.
Before the windows are washed the walls
should be brushed down with Z feather duster
or with piece Of white cotton cloth pinned
tightly together over the broom, and then il
is used to carefully sweep down every part of
the wall. Let the dust subsids little. then
scatter torn-up slips of wet paper or tea leaves
over the floor and sweep It up, and mop it with
a dampened mop. De not let the floor be
made quite wet, as it takes pine boards some
time TO dry. Wash the mirrors, vanished
furniture, paint and windows with the weak
tea, applied as warm as possible. Use a fap
mel cloth for furniture and paint, and news
papers for mirrors and windows, rubbing them
dry with dry papers. Paper gives q bright
ness to glass that cloth can never bestow.
With flannel wrUng out in the tea wipe off
the gas-fXtures, chandeliers and fancy brack-
cts, etc, then rub them dry with chamOis-
skin. Take the coarsest Of white thread and
draw it through the opening in the burn
eTs, to remove any particles of dust that have
lodged therein while they were not used. If
you have two pairs Of hands at work, one can
wash windows while the other cleans paint,
etc. small stick wrapped in 4 cloth is of
assistance in cleaning the corners of windows.
The spirits of ammonia is also good cleans
ing medium, and a tablespoonful to q two
quart pail of weak tea or warm suds is 4 good
proportion to use. It will take spots out of
marble slabs and mantels, and from carpets
and furniture coverings. If you do not take
up your carpet, you will need to have piece
Of oilelOth or drugget to lay down before the
windows and doors as you wash them, to keep
the drops from it. When the room is rs clean
as hands can make it, bring in twO-quart pail
of warm water in which you have dissolved
two tablespoonful Of powdered alum; wiring
out piece of flannel in it and wipe over each
breadth Of carpet, rubbing down the way the
nap runs. Wiring out the cloth every few
moments, as it takes up much soil, and when
the water becomes dingy prepare some more.
The alum will brighten the cOIors of green,
red, yellow and brown, but be sure to wiring
the cloth so dry It will not wet, but only
dampen, the carpet. Whenit is clean YOU viii |
be surprised to see how much it is frightened.
Leave the windows all open until it is perfectly
dry,