The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-03-03
Concerning Beds and Bedding.


A VERY expensive feature of house
furnishing is the bedding, and nice
bed, and a good one, should be well
taken care of and protected from dust.
A great many people who claim to pos
sess common sense still continue to
have their bedroom floors covered with
a carpet which is nailed down and not
taken up and shaken more than twice
year. 1t follows that whenever the car
pet is swept. more or less dust is put
into motion and settles in due proper
ton upon the bed. If, prior to, the
sweeping, the bed be covered with
large duster, this difficulty will be
avoided.
For bed of large size it requires ten
yards of calico to make a duster-four
widths, two and half yards in length.
Very nice calico, well starched, can be
had for from seven to eight cents a
yard. For ten cents yard beautiful
chintzes can be had, in bright rich col
ors. For three-quarter bed three
wi this of the calico are enough, but the
length must be two and na1f yards. If
all the bedrooms in the house are swept
on the same day, at least two busters
are required for ''sweep-day" purposes,
while duster each for all beds not in
constant use is needed. To keep q
spare bed "made up'' is great piece
of extravaganza. The bed linen and
bed spread become gradually soiled,
and when the bed is to be occupied it
needs to be made up afresh in order to
be in proper condition. The best
housekeepers keep all their bedding
-pillow-cases, sheets, covers, etc.
folded when not in use. and the
bedding carefully protected with a
ehintz cover, which lends bright and
tidy appearance to the room. Some
have case made of blue-and-white
cotton for protecting the mattress from
soil. A pair of sheets the size of the
top of the mattress, with thin layer
of cotton between, and quilted on a
machine, is very nice for a sandwich
between the sheet and mattress. 1t is
easily worked, adds to the comfort of
the bed, and protects the mattress.
Whatever will keep bedding clean is
desirable, for it is undeniably laborious
work to clean bedding.
Long sheets which turn down a full
half yard over the bed covers, protect
them very much from becoming soiled.
For warm, heavy blankets, in constant
use, and which can only be cleaned
without injury at considerable expense,
| shield of white muslin can be very
effectively used. If the blanket be two
and half yards wide, that much in
length of muslin will be required, with
little allowance at each end for hem.
| Fold the muslin straight through the
center the long way, SO that one-half
will go on one side of the top end of the
blanket and one half on the other side.
With a needle and thread fasten the
muslin to the blanket across the top
with basting stitches, and again at the
bottom of the muslin. The muslin
shield can be removed and washed as
often as one likes.
Bed-ticking, stained with blood from
nose-bleeding, wounds or other causes,
may be cleaned by applying starch,
well moistened with water, to the spot.
Renew the wet starch until the stain is
extracted, the wet starch absorbing it.
A cheap and very comfortable bed,
with an under-bed of straw, hay OF
husk, can be made by putting on the
top light cotton Mattress" which
can be made at home. For the two
sides of the mattress bed-ticking il
best, and they should be somewhat
longer and wider than the top of the
bed, as in tying the size is somewhat
reduced. Put two or three times az
much cotton between the "sides'' as
are put between those of a comfort
able' and tie quite closely; finish by
turning in the two edges and sewing
them overland, or stitch on machine.
Beds of straw or husk look Infinitely
better and are far more comfortable
when the ticks are made like those of s
mattress, with straight, upright piec'
sewed in all around. The corners shoult
be clipped off, SO that the tick will b.
round at the "corners," as it fits the bed
stead better. Do not fill the tick through
an opening at one end, but through sli
cut in the middle of the top "side
This slit should be two feet long; on
side should be faced, and on the othe
sew a wide piece to act as lappet
which should button over ON to th,
faced side. When the filling of tn
tick becomes disarranged or needs t.
be stirred up, the convenience of tn,
slit will be made manifest. l once sup
posed that everybody made straw tick
in this way, until found out different
ly, which must be my excuse for giving
this description.
If bedstead has become infestet
with the small insect that the Englisl
call Norfolk Howard and is diff
cult to be kept free from the pest, Civ,
q good coat of paint to every part Of
that is not vanished. and you will hav
no further trouble with bugs.--Cor
Rural NeaO Yorker.
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