The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-04-08
HOuse-C Cleaning.

hOuot-OltdulHRs
To many housekeepers the thought
of the springtime is so closely associ-
ated with the idea of the annual house
cleaning that the sense of pleasurable
enjoyment in the season of the beauti-
full reopening of natures stores of life
and beauty is almost unknown to them.
The thoughtful, sympathetic mind seeks
for some way in which the burden of
this greatly dreaded ordeal may be, at
least, lightened. There are some
strong reasons in favor of changing the
time of the great yearly ceaning--if
the great yearly cleaning must still
come all at one time-from spring to
autumn; the chief of these may be
found in the fact that the air in the
spring is somewhat inclined to induce
languorous feeling, while the bright
crisp air of autumn is bracing and
strengthening. The housekeeper, es
pecially the housekeeper who does her
own work-needs to choose the time
when all things combine.that the work
may be the most easily, and with the
least strain, accomplished.
1t is well in the spring to look over
bureau drawers, trunks and chests,
brush them out thoroughly, dispose of
useless, and replace useful, pieces and
articles, and thus make ready to pack
away the white woolens in fresh, cleah
receptacles. Camphor-gum literally
scattered among the garments when
laid away-they having been previously
well shaken and brushed-will, accord
ing to my experience, prove an effect
ual preventive to moth destructiveness
If the bits of gum are wrapped in bits
OF paper there is no likelihood of the
possibility of its leaving spots on any
of the clothing. Closets, side boards
and dressers should also be cleaned out
aud freshened, and any refuse bit or
article should be removed-there will
be more or less of such collections in
the best-regulated households. / have
read that by putting, with little cam
el's-hair brush, carbolic acid into the
cracks, crevices and corners, one can
destroy insect eggs, and the young of
the reaches and other insects. The
same destructive power is accredited to
a similar use of kerosene, turpentine
and oil of peppermint. This work can
be done at odd times, and it makes the
simpler matter if closets, bureaus, ETC.,
are all attended to before the rest is un-
dertaken. 1t is better to clean but one
room at time, and settle it at once
before another is begun; better, too, to
undertake no more for one days work
than can reasonably be done, and
moreover, to keep ones self absolutely
free from any rigid plan, or any binding
of ones self to accomplish Just SO
much each and every day, or to have
the cleaning all done by any specified
time. 1t is best, in all planning, to
leave margin for the unexpected and
unavoidable, to use only such days and
times as can best be thus used, consid.
ering the housekeeper's strength
health, help and her other interrupting
duties.
If the tacks are taken out of carpet
the day before the room is to be cleaned
it makes an easier and more propitious
beginning of the days work. On the
morning of the cleaning-day all articles
which can readily be put elsewhere
should be carefully busted and carried
out. Then take hold of corner, or if
if two are working together, of two
gently fold it over and over, until it is
folded in as small a compass as may be
easily possible; the papers-for papers
even newspapers, put under carpets are
not only great saving in the wear of
the carpets, but of toll and dirt when
cleaning-should then be gently rolled
together, and the greater part of the
accumulated dust will be carried from
the room with the rolls of paper and
carpet. A little ammonia added to the
water used in cleaning the woodwork
makes the work much easier, saving
both soap and elbow grease"
Cleaning house in this way, and
gradually, the work will lose much Of
It's dread and terror, which will be an
infinite relief to the masculine as wei
as the feminine portion of the house
hold. 1t is very important, at this time
of extra exertion on the part of the
housekeeper, that she should be espe
cially careful to sustain herself by good
substantial meals. They could b,
cooked previously; or, at least, tn,
preparation of such food as is usabl,
when cold, or such as is easily warmed
over, could be managed; and there
are dinners which need long, slow
cooking, which, as one may say, one,
put over the fire-where they will no
burn-will cook themselves.
Having regular meals at the regula
times, trying not to do all at once, re
solving firmly not to hurry or to overdo
and planning the work so as to bring i
TO slow and gradual completion, withOu
becoming "tired out" and, conse
quently, worried out, even though