Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-01
HOUSE CLEANING.
SMALL DETAILS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE DoMESTI
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER.

HOUSE CLEANING
SMALL DETAILS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE DOMESTIC
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER.
housekeeping in the fall, although much less
prominence is given TO it, is U no less import
ance than housekeeping In the spring. eSpeci
ally when, is often the case in town, the house
has been closed for the summer. The use Of dis
infectants is then absolutely necessary, and
sweeping, busting and whitewa5hing thoroughly
are imperatiyely called for.
Every one knows that malaria is more active
in the early fall than at any other season, even
in the heat OF summer. There is in the air an
exact elements necessary for decomposition
Mephitic taintS about house are slower in
coming to a head so to speak, than in hotter
weather, and so hnger longer about house
Besides, in our furnace-heated homes the
frost has no chance to Kill poisonous
gases, and when the fires are started
them the seeds of disease and death. White
washing the cellar, therefore, II done but once
year, should be done In the fall rather than In
the spring, and free use OF disinfectantS should
be made strong solution OF copperaS should
be used for pouring down sinks and water clos
cts, and lime should be freely sprinkled In Gel
ash is used constantly in the kitchen sink it will
dissolve the grease which so often clogs the
drain pipes and renders necessary the aid Of the
plumber.
Beds should be cleaned, mattresses summed and
bed clothing aired. Winter clothing and blank
cts, which have been packed away for the sum-
mer, should be taken out, examined and Well
aired. Where carpets have been on the floor all
summer thorough sweeping is all that Is required
to clean them. For this carpet brush Is better
than broom and patent carpet sweeper than
either. The carpet sweeper, however, will not
go into the corners of the room, and these
must be cleaned with brush and dustpan. This
troublesome corner brushing is obvlated by the
modern fashion of leaving strip of stained
floor around the edge OF the carpet. Where the
floors are covered with mating it is generally
agreed to be wiSeSt to leave the mating down
n Z tiFNfr
keeps better on the floor than II taken up and
stored away, and at the same time helps TO
preserve the carpet. Two thickneSSeS Of paper
should be laid between them. Newspapers will
answer for this purpose, but common brown
wrapping paper, such as grOcerS uSe is still bet
ter, on account OF its absorbent qualities. When
it is used the mating will usually be found
much cleaner the next spring after the carpet IS
taken up than when 1t was laid down. For
cleaning mating, damp corn meal or wheat
bran sprinkled over it and then swept OIL Is eX-
cellent Soap should never be used on mating
it yellOws it badly. When the mating is so
dirty as to require washing, salt water will be
found much better for the purpose.
Every one knows how iron caStOrS on furni-
ture stain straw mating. There is nothing
which will remove these stains without injury.
but they may be prevented by placing tiny round
mats Of straw coarse crochet cotton under each
roller. When depressions occur in the mating
an extra thickness OF paper must be put: In
order to prevent the carpet from wearing OH In
that spot The new patent a taeks ST for mating
better than the old style. When a breadth of
mating is to be pieced turn both pieces under
for three or four inches and oyerseam together
ON the wrong side. If neatly done the join will
Carpets which have been laid away during the
summer should be closely examined for moths
carpets may be neatly mended by slipping a
patch under, taking care that the figures match,
and FASTING carpet and patch together with
We have already given directions for STAINING
floors with oil. The subjoined recipe for pol
iShed border around carpet comes from Eng
land, where stained floors have been in fashion
for centuries: Put ounce Vandyke brown in
Oil, 3 ounces peaTlaSh and drachms dragons
blood into an earthenware pan; pour on these l
quart OF boiling water; stir with piece OF wood
The stain may be used hot or cold. The boards
should be smoothed with plane and glass
papered, the cracks filled up with plaster OF
Paris. Take stiff brush, dip In the stain and
rub this in well. Rub the boards the way Of the
grain, small piece at time BY rubbing in one
place more than another an appearance Of
oak or walnut is more apparent When quite
dry size the boards with glue size, made by boil
ing glue In water, and brushing 1t In the boards
hot. This dry, the boards should be papered
smooth and vanished with brown hard varnish
or oak varniSh. The brown hard varnish wears
better and dries quicker. Thin it with a little
French polish. This will stain oak or walnut
according to the intensity of the stain.
Stained floors for halls. with strip OF carpet
laid through the center, are considered very sly
liSh and are certainly very economical. The
stains on each side OF the stair-carpeting should
be stained to match.
The present fashion OF rugs and mats is also a
useful one for economical housekeepars, since
thin or worn spots on carpet may easily be
hidden through their agency.
Clothes which are to be laid away for the
winter should be washed and rough-dried, but
not starched. since the starch has tendency
not only to yellow white CLOTH but to rot it as
well. To preserve the color they should be
slightly blued Mice are apt to cut white clothes
aud calicoeS when laid away In closet to which
they have access, especially II any starch is left
in them. Grenadines, bunting and summer
woollenS which viii not be needed in cold
weather, should be packed IN trunks with cam
phor to preserve them from moths, which, In a
warm house, are frequently as active in winter
as in summer. The English custom of laying
sprigS OF lavender, or dried rose leaves among
linen is an exceedingly nice one.
Frames for mirrors and pictures may easily be
regtlded ct home by use OF the liquid gliding now
sold at all fancy stores.
Where open bookcases are used a strip OF
fancy leather two inches wide, pinked on the
lower edge and fastened TO the shelves with gilt
tackS, will protect the volumes from the dust, as
well as add to the appearance OF the bookcase
tI'i,ild. Times.