Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-04-06
Attic and Closets.

Almost all systematic hoUsekeepers
commence the general spring house
cleaning by first putting in order the
attic store-rooms and closets. By so do.
ing there are places made ready for
stoves, winter clothing, bedding, and all
the numerous articles which have to be
stored each spring.
To thoroughly clean and regulate
these parts of house is no small task,
but when they are in order and there is
a "place for everything. and everything
is in its place" half the burden of the
general house-cieaning is accomplished.
Once in the year all the piece boxes and
bags should be looked through, and eve
rything which is of no particular value
culled out. 1t is foolish idea which
some people have that they must store
away every rag and scrap which collects.
Gather them up, make nice bundle of
them, and present them to some friend
who will use them for new rag carpet
How much betteE.tO do SO than to leave
them for moths to destroy, and to be
handled over year after year. Of course
you may make carpet yourself, but
better give them away, unless there is
some prospect of your using them. Then
about worn clothing. There are thou
sands of poor people who are glad to
take even worn garments. How many
little feet are cold for the want of stock
ins, and how many children shiver be
cause they have no flannels. Look over
all the winter fiannels and clothing, and,
instead of numbering up trunks and
closets with things which will never be
worn again, put them in box by them
selves as store to be drawn from next
fall when demands come to fill mission
airy boxes and help the needy poor. II
you have surplus of old cotton, wool.
en-, or linen pieces after you have proyi-
ded bundle of each to be used in case OF
sickness in your own family. send a rGll
to the hospital; there is always need OF
bandages, lint, etc., there.
| 1t is good plan in packing away
things to have, aside from the trunks
and drawers which hold wearing appa-
rel and bedding, box, trunk, or clOset
devoted to old-fashioned articles which
one may have or things which are suita-
bleIfOr entertainments, tableaux, etc. Ii
saves much time when an old dress is
wanted or pair of knee-breeches if you
know Just where to find them. All
clothing which has been packed, unless
cotton goods, should be hung out in the
fresh air, and thoroughly shook before
| it is returned to drawers. When there
has been sickness, especially any conta-
| Fgious disease, in the family, the greatest
care should be exercised that no gar
ment or article of any kird which has
been used in the sick room should be
packed away before it has been thor
oughly disinfected. A great many peo-
pie do not realize that the germs of dis
ease may remain in clothing long time.
There are numbers of cases where care
lessness in this regard has cost precious
lives.
Moths are one of the trials of house
keepers. To keep them out of your furs
ard woolens, first shake and brush them
well so that if there are any in the gar
ments they will be destroyed, then wrap
them in newspaper with piece of cam
phor in each. package. The bundles may
be either tied or pasted up; the latter
way is the safest, as it leaves no cracks
for millers to fly into. Write on each
package what it contains so that it will
not have to be opened unless necessary.
If your memory is not very good and
you wish to help it little, make a
memorandum in your note book as you
arrange your closets and trunks. 1t will
save trying to keep each matter in mind
when one has other cares.