Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-28
Spring Hints.


making is over, and we are ready to be.
gin house cleaning in earnest. If we do
our own papering, painting and white
washing, think the incest way is to clean
one room at time, finishing it all up be-
fore commencing on another. But of
course those who hire the painting, ETC.,
done will want it all done at once, as soon
as the carpets are up. Now we will be-
gin with the chambers and will tell you
how think is the easiest way of cleaning
them. First take everything from the
closets, put them out on line to air,
clean the closet thoroughly. and return
the things, putting each article in its prop
er place. then there will be no further
putting to rights there. Next clean the
chamber furniture and varnish or rub
with oil and put in another room to dry.
Then take down curtains; if they are
washable put them by for wash-day if
they won't wash. brush them clean and
lay aside. Next take up the carpet, and
if wooden, have it put on line to be
beaten with a cowhide or timber stick, if
straw mating, place on the grass or a
clean floor. sweep carefully, and if it
needs washing, wash with a broom
dipped in salt water.
Now you have nothing in your room and
can go ahead and clean. but first take a
mop and water and wash the dust from
the floor; do not attempt to sweep it. II
your room Is to be papered and white
washed, have the whitewashing done be-
fore the old paper is torn off then there
will be no whitewash daubed on the walls
to prevent the new paper sticking. Next
clean your windows and wipe the finger
marks and specks from the woodwork.
Now you are ready for paint, then paper
ing; now give the floor a good scrubbing
and you are ready for your carpet. If the
carpet is wool, sprinkle the floor with car
bolic acid and place sprigs of cedar round
the edges of the room to prevent the rava-
ges OF moths. Put down your carpet,
bring back your furniture. put up pictures,
etc, and your room is finished except the
curtains, which can be put up any time
If your room needed neither paint, pa DER
or whitewash, it has been a very small
job to clean it.
Before commencing the regular clean
ing, think it a good plan to make separ-
ate washings of all the bedding. and then
it is all ready for the beds or 20 put away,
each quilt, spread, blanket, puff and pill.
low to be examined thoroughly, and any
worn or thin places mended. All painted
walls should be washed with soda or am.
monla water. Any spots on carpets
may be removed by scrubbing with OK.
gall and water, or ammonia and water
CATER the carpet is beaten, swept anC
tackled DOWN. rinsed off with clear water
OF course. Following this rule with eacl
sleeping room soon gets them cleaned anc
| IN order and that too without much hub
bub, which is really the worst feature o
housekeeping.
About the same rule may be followed
| with the other rooms, beginning with the
parlor and finishing with the cook room
| Plan each days work. but don't make the
| plan too big. If need be, write down or
a slip of paper just what you are to d,
each day and each task in the order which
you wish it done, pin your paper wher,
you can look at it often. and then whel
night comes you won't be vexed at the re
membrance of some overlooked task
which YOU were particularly anxious tt
have finished that day.
In cleaning the dish closets have ever,
piece of glass. china. silver and tin re
moved, wash the walls. scrub the shelve.
and put up clean papers. and after wash
ing and polishing each dish put them bacl
in place, and your closets are done.
| Sheds and out-houses should be tidied
up, and the cellars should be thorough,
cleansed of all decaying vegetables, al
| old barrels and boxes removed. and the
walls whitewaShed with lime and copper
as. But this part of the work hope the
Johns will feel belongs to them. and lie
them, to show they appreciate what ha,
been done in the house, clear away all
rubbish piles, fix the fences and gates
mend the steps and put in new scrapel
in place of the old broken one Let then
take as much pains to fix up the door
yard. the broken trellises, the rickety
blinds and such things,as the women have
taken to put the inside of the house t.
rights, and then the springs cleaning viii
have been a success.
BY getting your house cleaning done
early You will have time in the coo
weather of May and June to do up tn,
summers sewing, and then through tn,
heat OF July and August you need not tee
as If you must be stitching. stitching al
the time.-7he Household