Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-19

In ordinary seaons it is possible to dis
turb only one or two rooms at time. but
there are times when it is economy to give
painters and kalsominers full swing and
rush the process of renovation through
without delay, possessing ones soul in
sweet patience meantime and rejoicing in
the Joys to come. Dismissing all philoso-
ply, but the purely Baconian, let US dis
cuss the subject in its most practical form.
Where hard-fnished walls have already
been Ealsomined, the soilcd coats should
be washed or scraped off before new one
is put on. This is the most disagreeable
part of the process. The furniture should
be covered, rs lime makes spots that are
removed with difficulty, especially upon
black walnut. Those who have tried
paint on the walls of rooms speak very
strongly iu its favor. 1t closes up the
pores of plaster so that it cannot absorb
i'll odors, it can be easily cleaned with
soda and water, (soap and water make it
spotty), and in can be made Of any de-
sired tint. Perhaps some of our readers
do not know what active abserbents paper
and plaster are, and how, when they be-
come thoroughly saturated with various
efliuvia, nothing but entire renewal will
cleanse them. The Chinese understand
this so well that they will replasler II
room, furnishing labor and material for
the old plaster which is removed and used
for fertlizing purposes. Insects find no
harbor in painted walls as they do in
papered walls, and when once the paint
is dry there is no question about the poi
sons used in producing desirable tints.
Before paint or kalsomine is applied to
walls every crack and crevice should be
| filled with plaster or cement made of
one part water to one part of silicate of
potash mixed with common whiting. For
the kalsomine put Il quarter of u pound of
white glue in cold water over night and
heat gradually in the morning until dis
solved. Mix eight pounds of whiting
with hot water, add the dissolved glue and
stir together, adding water until about the
consistency of thick cream Use n kali
somine brush and finish as you 60 along
If skim milk is used instead OF water, the
glue may be omitted. In washing painted
walls it is good plan TO remove from the
room everything that can be injured by
steam and then hang sheets wrung from
hot water in the room. The vapor con.
densing on the walls softens the dirt and il
may be wiped off with wooen cloths
wrung from soda water. Ceilings that
have been smoked by n kerosene lamp
should be washed off with soda water. il
the wall about the stove has been smoked
by the stove, cover the the black patches
with gum shellac and they will not strike
through either paint or kalsomine.
,t,,,n ,.1a NH,
other woodwork. 1t may be washed with
warm soap suds quickly wiped dry and
then rubbed with an oily cloth. To polish
it, rub it with rotten-stone and sweet oil
Clean off the oil, and polish with chamois
skin. For ordinary woodwork use whit:
ing TO rub the dirt off and ammonia. Nor
tar and paint may be removed from
window glass with hot sharp vinegar
Grained wood should be washed with colo
tea Carpets should be thoroughly beater
on the wrong side first and then OF
the right, after which spots may be re
moved by the use of OK gall or ammonia
and water. Ifpaper has been laid undel
the carpet all dust may be easily removed
with it without raising any. The warmth
of floors is greatly increased by having
CdTpet liuluS VI layoAo vi P'Poi uhooi ~
Drain pipes and all other places that arr
sour or impure may be cleansed with lime
water; copperas mixed with whitewast
put upon the cellar walls will keep yer
min away. Strong brine may be used tt
advantage in washing bedsteads, hot alum
water is also good for this purpose. Oi
of lavender will drive away heas. Helle
bore sprinkled on the floor at nigh
destroys cockroaches they eat it and ar
poisoned. Cayenne pepper blown int
the cracks where ants congregate will
Drive them away. The same remedy
good also for mice. Ii gilt frames whel
new are covered with a coat of varnish nj
specks can then be washed off with waite
without harm.
! Good fires should be kept up during
house cleaning time even though tn
doors and windows be kept open, ant
more than usual attention should be givel
, to the provision of nutritious and gener
GUS diet Under the most Favorable
circumstances house cleaning makes i'm
mense demands upon the nervous system
rs we'll as on the muscular, and good foo
at regular intervals will be n great hel
| in enabling one to be patient and fin
comfort in the philosophy set forth at th
beginning of this brief essay.