The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-17
HOUSEHOLD.
Hints for House Cleaning.


Put eight or ten thicknesses of paper on
each stair under your stair carpets, it will
save them greatly.
To fill up small holes in plastering, mix
plaster of Paris in. small quantities with
water so it will spread easily with wide
bladed knife, and fill the holes. 1t will
harden very rapidly.
This dust is very fine and dry, and pois-
onous to the lungs. Before removing it,
sprinkle the floor with very dilute carbolic
acid, to Kill any poisonous germs that may
be present and to disinfect thoroughly the
floor and render it sweet.
Silver receives higher polish and keeps
clean longer when it Is employed. Where
pieces are but slightly tarnished add two
teaspooDfuls of ammonis to quart of hot
suds, and rub each piece with an old nail
brush. If badly discolored whiting will
also be necessary, but if clean ed at long in
tervsls with whiting weekly washing in
the ammonia water will be sufficient to keep
them bright.
If you have white paint that has turned
yellow, take q little saleratus on your sponge
and rub over it, washing off with clean wa
ter. and you will be surprised to see how
much improvement you have made. Saler-
atus is also good for taking grease from
shelves, tables, floors, etc. Spread it thickly
ever the spots, just dsmpen little,
and leave it for few minutes,
then scrub it with soap and water.
To make cleaning windows and paint
more easy, get'a large sponge, such as Is
used to wash carriages, and a chamois skin,
and go to werk. Use lukewarm soft water
Wash off the windows, glass and frames,
thoroughly with the sponge, then with the
skin wipe them off, and no rubbing up will
be required. Proceed the same with the
painted work about the house, and you who
try it, will say your paint aud windows new.
or looked so we'll before. Wiring the
chamois skin as dry as you can, each Tins
you use it. One advantage Of this methos
over the old way Of cleaning, is that no lint
is left on paint or windows. A handy thing
to have for windows and castings is u half
worn tooth brush to take dust or dirt out o.
corners.
Spirits of ammonia is an effective cleanser
of paint. Allow tablespoonful of the
ammonia to quart of hot water. Tive
quarts will be enough. Take a flannel
cloth and wipe the paint. 1t needs ne
scrubbing, and every spot will disappear
Ammonia will do half the work for you
where grease is concerned. 1t can be EN-
ployed In many cases Wnere OenZlne is uSeu
and is q far less dangerous thing to have in
the house, benzine giving of as soon AS the
cork is removed great volume of vapor
which explodes at once if gas or lighted
candle is near. When pot or pan has had
anything greasy in it fill it partly with
warm water and add a few drops of ammo
MIA. In ten minutes it can be poured of
and the thing will be not half the trouble tC
wash, and with no grease lurking in corners
to flavor the next article cooked IN it.
When putting down carpets in rooms ths
are much used. after the floors are clean sne
dry, spread clean newspapers, or any kind
# paper, over the IGOR, then take nice
clean straw, and spread 1t thickly over tbs
paper, then put your carpet down. Th'
straw will not make any disagreeable SOUND
after few days. 1t will let the dus
through on to the paper, and clouds of dus
will not follow the broom, OF sw >eping day
The carpet will last longer with this linine
than with any other, and when you take il
up again, you will ''bless your stars" tha
you put down the newspapers, for on then
will be found the dust, and all you will need
to do will be to take them up carefully anC
put them on the pile of rubbish for the
spring bonfire, and thus avoid filling you
lungs with dust from sweeping, for very
little will be upon the floor.