The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-09
ABOUT sTuFFY HOUSES.
What Housekeepers Should Do to Have
Sweet, Pleasant Houses.

What Housekeepers Should Do to Have
Sweet, Pleasant Houses.
Many houses are always in order, and
one fails to detect dust or dirt; yet
they lack the freshness and sweetness
which should be part of every home.
In such houses the carpet-sweeper or
the small brush-broom 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 thorough airing every day, and
this is why visitor feels oppressed on
entering. A wooden 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
q sitting-room should be swept or shak-
en- once week at least, and these rooms
should be thoroughly aired every morn
ing.
Straw mating, or hardwood, or
painted floors are sweeter and more con-
ducive to health than wooden carpets.
1t is, therefore, pity that any thing
but mating is ever used for covering a
bedroom floor Small rugs that any
body can easily shake may be placed
beside the bed and wash-stand, and, in
deed, wherever one would like mat to
give an air of warmth and comfort to
the room. Many persons object to mat
ting, because they say. it does not wear
well. The best quality will, however,
outwear 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 fur
nishing 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 mattresses so dis
posed that there shall be 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 cellar! 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 kitchen there
must be daily inspection of closets and
a thorough airing several times in the
day. The windows 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, receptacle for damp dish,
sink ana floor cloths, all of which
should be exposed to air and light, in
stead of being thrown into a dark cor
ner until wanted again.
Another important thing to keep in
mind is the plumbing. The more con-
veniences hOusekeeper has in the way
of set-bowls, bathrooms, etc., the
grenter her cares; for these modern
conveniences may be source of the
greatest danger. It is singular that
but few understand the necessity for a
thorough flushing of the pipes once or
twice day. Some folks think any use
of water beyond what is actually neces-
sary is waste. A constant leakage is
a waste, but there should be a perfect
rush of water through all the pipes at
least once day. Once week all the
pipes should have poured through them
boiling-hot soda water, half pint of
washing soda dissolved in two gallons
of boiling 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 a fire
should be lighted in some room in the
main part of the house, and the doors
in all the rooms be opened, in order that
all the house may be kept dry.
If we would have sweet homes we
must be prodigal in our use of water.
fresh air and nlight.-Maria Parloa,
In Good Housekeeping.