The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-06
of time. They are necessary demands upon

of time. They are necessary demands upon
the mistress of family.
Cupboards, closets and drawers all need
cleaning out, and wiping over, with little
carbolic acid mixed in water; it will keep
them pure and prevent musty odor, which is
apt to gather in close places. As the weather
grows warm, soap grease and ashes will be
ready for their chemical combination, and are
rendered wholesome by the process.
All these thing cared for, the first of May
finds things in general preparation for house
cleaning. Cleaning one room at time, and
setting it to rights is far more eXpedient than
the common practice of taking up all the car
pets and upsetting the whole house at once.
Commencing operations in the chambers is
saving of work, as no dust is carried down to
the lower rooms. Every room that is occupied
constantly needs a fresh coat of whitewash
each spring, as it adds to the health of the
dwelling. Wall papers need to be brushed off,
and if smoked, to be rubbed with bundle of
wheat bran, or slices of stale bread.
AS soon as the ground is warm, do not for
get 10 SOW quantity of sunfower seeds a.
round the drains and under the pantry win
dows; they will absorb all the impurities, and
are great protection against fevers and 9TH
er complaints that are engendered by the hot
weather, and they prevent the generation of
fungi, wherever they grow. They require very
little attention-simply mellowipg up the earth
around the roots occasionally. II you trythem
one year, you will be astonished to see how
pure and sweet they keep the air. If you do
the buds, and keep the plant in more perfect
vigor; but the seeds furnish beneficial change
of diet for hens during winter, and they are
fond of them.
All spots can be removed from carpets, by
putting ammonia in boiling water, and rub
bling freely over the place. Fresh straw to put
under carpets, with sprinkling of carbolic
acid over it, will keep moths from injuring
them, and purify the air. If stoves are to be
set away for the summer, slight coating of
boiled linseed oil will keep both them and the
pipes from gathering rust but it is not adyis-
able to have all the stoves taken down, as
there are frequent damp, rainy days, that
leave a dampness IN the house, and it is very
comfortable to have little fire to warm the
rooms at such times, as well as to dry the
walls. Aside from the damp air, it is very
nice to sit by a cosy stove in the sitting-room,
instead OF budding around the kitchen stove
in order to keep comfortable.
All dust from carpets and rugs needs to be
well beaten out, and when carpet is getting
partly worn it is nice arrangement to rip it
open in the middle, and put the outside
breadths where the wear will come most; it
looks and wears much better, Where stains
appear on paint, ammonia in water will gene
rally remove them. Soap spoils paint, and
the less used, the longer the paint will keep
good. There is no necessity of securing doors
or mop-boards; solution of ammonia and
water to wiring the cloth from, and wipe it
over, with dry cloth to wipe off the damp
ness, is far better than strength, and soap and
sand, and experience will generally show
mistress of family that it is advisable to save
what strength she can. 1t is tested enough,
with unavoidable labors and pains, without
recklessly throwing it away.-Country Gen.
tlenadn.