The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-10
Mrs. Johnson's House Cleaning.

Mrs. JOhnsOns House Cleaning. =
1t would be hard to tell where Mrs. John
sons house cleaning began, or when it
ended. Her husband and sons would have
said, had they been asked, that she never
cleaned house at all; they saw no evidence
of it. Old Amt N1ollie. her one faithful,
lifelong servitor, said: Laws, der amt
NJ use to clean dis yere house; Miss jules
alters cleaning" Both were wrong yet
both were right, as Edith, who was the
eldest daughter, could testify. In fact,
they, Mrs. johnson and Edith, began their
house cleaning the latter part of October,
by carefully looking over the summer
clothing, remOdeling such garments as were
worth it, and laying aside-to give away
those that were Out-grown or done with.
The bed and table linen also received at
tentiOn at this time. Sheets were turned,
or if too worn for that, were put away to
use in sickness. Table cloths beyond use
as such, were cut-the good parts into nap
kins for daily use, thinner portions tackled
together into two or three thicknesses,
made soft cloths for many purposes; while
the ragged pieces were rolled up for the
bag of old linen, which is so Indispensable
in every family.
CamphOr chests and packing trunks were
emptied of their winter cloths, busted out
cotton sheeting, so as to be ready for their
winter occupants.
Mattresses and bed clothing We're put out
to be thoroughly aired, the bedsteads taken
apart and washed all Over-slats, springs
and all-in cold water thoroughly dried.
not only with soft cloths. but out on the
balcony or before an open window: then,
with a small paint brush and cup of tur-
pentine, Mrs. johnson painted each crack
and creviCe, the ends of Stats and springs,
and the back of the bedstead. In fact,
every Granny which could serve as hid
ing place, received thorough attention.
This annual amounting Mrs. Johnson would
entrUst to no one but Edith or herself
She used to say she would rather see a
snake in the house than bed bug; and in
this way alone could she feel sure of per-
feet immunity from these pests, which are
the torment Of careless housel5eepers.
After these thoroughly preventive meas
ures, the weekly brushing and busting Of
the entire bed and all its parts was sutici-
Gnt for the year.
Mrs. Johnson never undertook to do more
than one bed day. There were several
reasons for this resolve, the most important
of which was that she did not intend to
-overtax their strength by doing more in
one day than could be done easily and
pleasantly in the forenoon. The morning
alone was devoted to house cleaning-the
subject, being strictly tabooed for the rest
of the day, was not even talked of or
thought of. So that every morning fresh
energies were on hand for fresh duties, and
each bed was attended to in turn until all
were done. If a rainy day interviewed, and
Mrs. Johnson had to wait, she did not al
low it to fret or worry her, because she in
tended to take her time. AS nothing was
ont of order, nobody was incommoded land
through the whole of the house cleaning
the routine of the housekeeping was IN
disturbed; meals were neither sighted nor
abbreviated.
After the beds, the closets, bureaus,
wardrobes, sideboards, etc, received par
ticUlar attention, being treated (inside) to
a coat of turpentine, after having been
thoroughly washed with water in which
had been mixed a few drops of carbolic
acid. Thus all disease germs, or eggs of
moths and other insects which might have
found lodgment in holes or corners, were
effectually destroyed
Heavy winter clothing and bedding were
brushed, shaken, aired and mended. if need
be, and then hung in their places ready for
use. So, throughout the whole house, the
closets were done.
After this, the carpets (only one a day.
were taken up and taken away to be
shaken. l know that this seems strange
procedure and old-faShioned housekeep
ers will be aghast, feeling sure that the
preceding work has been wasted. Not so;
there is a right way and a wrong, even in
taking up carpet, which can be done
without raising particle of dust. This,
TOO, Mrs. Johnson gave her personal atten-
ton. Where her floors had been stained
rugs and art squares had been repeatedly
shaken throughout the summer, so that
these were very little trouble. The car
pets that were tackled down had been
Invested of their tacks Immediately after
breakfast by the children, who thought it
only fun. They had been shown how to
4,al FILL
the carpet, and had kept all the straight
onces, as they drew them out, III box;
while the crooked ones, which could not be
used again, were emptied at the roots Of
the rose bushes, because iron was good for
en-" little Ted would say. The children
also helped to carry out the chairs, light
articles Of furniture, brio a-brac and
pictures, busting them as often as possible
thus prOlOnging the pleasure of ''helping."
Then Mrs. Johnson and Edith enveloped
all the large articles in calico covers used
on sweeping days, and moved them to one
side of the room. Taking hold of each end
Of the carpet at the opposite side of the
room, they laid it gently over in fold
about two feet wide its entire length,
rolled up the newspapers, which were
spread underneath, tied them with twine !
so that they would not unroll folded the
carpet again, gathered up the papers as be-
fore, and so continued to do until the mid |
rolled the furniture over the carpet on to !
the bare floor, and beginning at the end of
the room repeated the folding and rolling, /
until at last the carpet lay in one long, fiat |
roll in the centre of the room, and the rolls |
of newspapers lying where they had been
left. Now, beginning at each end of the |
carpet, they folded over about three feet |
continuing this process until the entire |
carpet rested in the middle of the room in /
a compact form ready to be carried away, /
and the remainder Of the newspapers were ,
rolled up as before. If by this time the |
carpet shaker had arrived, he was in
structed how to fold the carpet, and re-
nuested to bring it back in given time.
Now, all this time not particle of dust
had been raised, the rolls ofpaper had been
gently laid in an empty coal bucket, and /
carried out TO the ash barrel. Aunt Mollie /
now presented herself with pail of warm
water and floor cloth, which she wrung
as dry as possible, and with which she
wiped off theentire floor, rinsing tho Goth
when necessary.