The Jersey City news., 1890-04-23
STUFFY HOUSES.
What Housekeepers Should Do to
Have Pleasant Homes.

Many houses are always in order,
and one fails to detect dust or dirt;
yet they lack the freshness and sweet
ness which should be part of every
home. In such houses the carpet
sweeper or the small brush-broom and
and the dust-pan are used to remove
all the perceptible dirt from the floor.
The sunlight is shut out, lest carpets
and furniture coverings be faded; the
rooms do not get a thorough airing
every day, and this why visitor
feels oppressed on entering. A woolen
carpet will absorb not only the dust,
but also all the gases and unpleasant
odors which come in contact with it.
The carpets or rugs in a sitting-room
should be swept or shaken once a
week at least, and these rooms should
be thoroughly aired every morning.
Straw mating, or hardwood, or
painted floors are sweeter and more
conducive to health than wooden car
pets. 1t is, therefore, a pity that any
thing but mating is ever used for
covering a bed room floor. Small
rugs that any body can easily shake
may be placed beside the bed and
wash stand, and, indeed. wherever
one would like a mat to give an air of
warmth and comfort to the room.
Many persons object to mating, be-
cause, they say, it does not wear we'll.
The best quality will, however, OUT
wear an ingram carpet. Cheap mat
tings are expensive at any price.
There should be nothing in a bed
room that is not washable, and the
furnishing should be so simple that it
can be cared for without too much
time and labor. The beds should be
thoroughly aired every morning, the
sheets, blankets, pillows and mat
tresses so disposed that there shall be
a current of air about them, and if
possible they should be exposed to
the sunshine. All closets should be
thoroughly aired daily.
The kitchen and cellar must be as
carefully watched as any other part of
the house. How often the bad odors
and much sickness could be traced to
the kitchen or cellarl A few decayed
vegetables or fruit left there may cause
an unpleasant odor that will penetrate
every part of the house and often
bring on serious illness In the
httC1Cl J11tIO uSG No LIE l}CCOiOh
of closets and thorough airing
dows should be dropped a few inches
from the top all the time, in this way
keeping the air pure, and, as a matter
of fact, keeping the whole house
sweeter. 1t is misfortune to have an
inclosed sink, because the closet is, as
a rule, a receptacle for damp dish,
~t@ 81
should be exposed to air and light in
stead of being thrown into dark cor
ner until wanted again.
Another important thing to keep IN
mind is the plumbing. The more
conveniences housekeeper has in
the way of set-bowls, bathrooms, ETC.,
the gentler her cares; for these
modern conveniences may be a source
of the greatest danger. It is singular
that but few understand the necessity
for a thorough flushing of the pipes
once or twice a day. Some folks
think any use of water beyond what
is actually necessary is a waste. A
constant leakage is a waste, but the re
should be a perfect rush of water
through all the pipes at least once a
day. Once week all the pipes should
nave DOuT0u bAIOuSll bnCiA DClilhS x
hot soda water, half a pint OF washing
soda dissolved in two gallons of boil
ing water. When bought by the
quarter barrel soda is very cheap.
Three or four barrels of charcoal set
in different parts of the cellar will be
of great help in keeping the house
sweet.
In damp weather in summer fire
i 1. Al. = ~,
main part Of the house, and the doors
in all the rooms be opened, in order
that all the house may be kept dry.
Ii we would have sweet homes we
must be prodigal in our use of water,
fresh air and sunlight. Maria Parloa,
in Good Housekeeping.
Woman Shootists.
"Can woman shoot as we'll as a
MANI" said Mr.. E. P. Conlin, New
Vc,.l~ av,,o.,t tsT,va tarrtt a erpofj