Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-03-21
CARE OF CARPETS.

CARE OF CARPETS.
How to Sweep Them and How to Re-
move Grease and Ink Spots.
A carpet that has been cared for
properly, although only of an ordi-
nary kind, will outlast one OF SUI
perior grade that has been neglected.
Therefore it is very important that
the carpet be carefully treated. The
sweeping of carpet requires. to be
sure, some strength, but generally
housewives give too much strength to
this work. more than is ever needed.
It is very foolish to dig with the
broom so hard that 1t seems as though
you were trying to get at the floor be-
meath, yet that is the way many
women sweep, some of them even
working the carpet from the sides of
the room in spots. As the dust on a
carpet is always on the surface, a
light, swift stroke of the broom is all
that is needed to dislodge it, for what
ever dust has worked through the car
pet no broom can remove, but it must
await the taking up of the carpet.
Before beginning to sweep, with a
small corn broom brush out thorough
ly The sides and corners of the room,
and if there is a stove in the room,
brush under the oilcloth or zinc.
Dampened corn meal is excellent for
Frightening the colors and laying the
dust, taking care that the coarest
meal is used for this purpose, and
not the granulated, as the latter ought
never be used. When spreading the
meal do not allow any to fall at
the sides of carpet near the wall or
in the corners, for it is almost impos-
sible to remove it wholly from these
places, and moths revel in it. Some
women use dampened tea leaves with
good results when sweeping, but We
never had much success with them,
and prefer the corn meal. Salt is a
wonderful brightener of colors, but is
not a success in keeping down the
dust Snow is one of the best things
we know for laying the dust, but it is
not advisable to use it in a very warm
room, for if it is allowed to melt ere
sweeping of it is apt to leave q tiny
pool OF water, which. doing no harm
of itself, might, when mixed with the
dust. leave muddy spot on the car
pet which would be difficult to remove.
If the carpet after sweeping is wiped
over with a cloth wrung out of am
monia water it will look much brighter.
Use a tablespoonful of household am
monia to half pail of warm water.
Many use a sponge but cloth made
from cid merino underware is every
bit as good. Wiring the cloth as dry
as possible, and 60 over small space
at time. changing the water as often
as thought advisable. If there are any
indications of moths around the edges
or in the corners, wiring out clean
cloth from clear water and lay over
the carpet on the places suspected,
then with hot iron 60 over the cloth
and there will be no danger from these
pests after.
Usually a cloth wrung out of am
monia water applied to grease or dust
spots will remove them. but it will re-
quire hard rubbing in some cases.
Another way is to rub the spots with a
flannel dipped in turpentine. Large
grease spots or oil spots can be re.
moved by covering with whiting. let it
remain over night, then brush of, and
if the grease is not removed apply
more whiting, and so continue until
the spot has been erased. Buckwheat
is also good for this purpose, and.
lacking both. common flour may be
used successfully.
When ink mas been spilled on the
carpet take up as much of it as posi-
BILE with a clean cloth. then get some
clean water, and with a clean cloth
apply the water, changing the latter
until all the ink has been
removed. Do not rub the spot, but
press the ink out by sopping. Then
with a clean, dry cloth wipe as dry as
possible. Apply the water while the
ink is fresh or it will not have the de-
sired effect. Many use milk for the
of ink. but it is not advisable
to use it on carpet as it 10 sure to
leave a grease spot that may be very
obstinate to erase. Boston Budget
Webster as a Financier.