Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-04-28
THE HOUSEHOLD.


As tho time is approaching for the general
spring cleaning, few suggestions may be &C
ceptable, especially to those who have not
had the benefit of long experience. There is
no hurry about beginning. 1t is far better to
wait till the last of April or the first of MAY.
when the chilly winds have disappeared aud
the weather is warmer. More women are
made sick by house cleaning than by any 9TH
err work they are obliged to do. They expose
themselves to cold, stand in draught of air
when heated by violent exercise, and then
comes on pneumonia, lame sides, and divers
other complaints-the result of house clean
ing. Now, if one must begin operations be-
fore it is warm weather. just commence with
the bureau drawers; arrange them at leisure,
after busting and wiping dry; sprinkle few
drops of spirits of turpentine on the bottom
of each drawer to keep moths and flies out,
spread clean newspaper over the bottom,
and it is ready for use. Then cupboards and
closets can be cleaned and rearranged for the
summer, and it is great assistance to have
them set to rights in advance. free sprink-
ling of spirits of turpentine on the floors and
shelves will keep all insects from injuring the
contents, and it is most desirable to prevent
them from taking refuge in the house.
1t is much better to clean one apartm ent at
a time than to have the whole house stirred
up in confusion at once. Then, in case of
casualties or unexpected company, there is a
chance to be comfortable. There is nothing
more disagreeable than to have house all in
commotion, carpets up, curtains down, and
everything in disorder; and there is no need
of it. Housekeepers can manage differently
if they choose. 1t is bad enough to have one
room disarranged at time, but that is far
preferable to having the house stirred up from
garnet to cellar, and things brought into con-
tact that were never neighbors before.
After years of experimenting with various
prescriptions to keep bedsteads free from bugs
have found nothing more effectual than spir
its of turpentine; it Injuries neither bedstead
or ticking, and it is perfectly safe In new
house there is no need of allowing all these
disagreeable guests to get foothold; but if
you live in an old house there are plenty of
cracks and crevices that have harbored them
for years, and it is only by long and persis-
tent warfare against them that they can be
conquered. Fresh paint on the floor and cas-
ings of an infested chamber is good appli-
cation, and keeps them in allegiance for a
good while. think If old Job had been
obliged TO contend with bedbugs and cock
reaches, he would have found his patience
sorely tried, to say the least. But persever-
ance will conquer all difficulties, and spirits
of turpentine will give a victory if faithfully
administered.
"hCh Npo iAutl 10 htli uEl6u up, ana the
warm May air and bright sun warns the at.
mosphere, you can finish your housekeeping
with ease. Get your withdrawing all done
up, stoves cleaned, but not set away-never
do that; there are plenty OF damp, cold days
all through the summer months, when fires
are indispensable to comfort and health and
it is very unpleasant to have the whole family
huddle around the family cook-stove to get
warm. 1t is most preposterous fashion
this custom of taking down the stoves as soon
as warm weather comes on, and common sense
would reveal the folly of such action if one
would only stop to think how many damp,
rainy days come during all the summer months.
A little fire will change the atmosphere of
room, and prevent mildew gathering on the
walls and be conducive of health and COM
fort generally. In cleaning house never lay
out more work than you can accomplish with
ease before dinner that is as long as person
ever ought to engage in such hard work, and
by judciously following this rule you can get
through with as much work as if you scrubbed
one whole day, and was sick the two follow
ing days TO pay for it. Another thing, a wo.
man should never do the withdrawing, or
nail down carpets, or re-paper the walls-it
is not her work, and it is far cheaper for
man to hire it done, or do it himself, than it
is to pay doctors bills, not to take into ac-
count the suffering and pain that is almost
sure to follow such labor for woman. sc Far
mer's WIFE" IN ". Il. Farmer.