The Critic and record., 1891-04-14
HOUSEHOLD
u.efuI nlnl. on nou.e oleanIns.

The time Of year Though, perhaps, not
The weather with which we have been ia
vorcd lately) naturally turns the thoughts
of the housewife in direction which
may perhaps make some hints ON clean
ing welcome. The following remarks
have not much protension to novelty APP
plying, as they do, To most ordinary
things but for that reason such every
day processes, from force of habit and
their frequent recurrence, are apt to be
less and less carefully performed. To
begin with the most nccdiul
ScnuBriNG-F this the water should be
neither too hot nor too cold. the former
turns the boards black, and the latter
does not cleanse them. Keep the brushes
for the one purpose only, and In q dry
place, rinsing them well after each time
nf using. Always scrub the way the
grain goes, and change the water as soon
ms IL Is dirty this is very important
point. 10 Is a mistake, too, TO wet the
boards too much, Use soft soap and q
little soda First wet the boards with a
cloth, and after the actual scrubbing,
rinse well, and partly dry with a cloth
wruug out as tightly as possible the less
soap and moisture YOU allow TO soak into
the Oor the less yellow will the boards
become. Where bedrooms are scrubbed
before the warm weather sets I'm the bed
ding and bed linen must be carefully re-
moved as the damp so soon settles in
means of a fire tkeeping the window a
little way opcn) before using IL again.
For boards that have been neglected or
are otherwise in bad condition, make u
mixture of one part of lime, three OF
very fine sand and two of soft soap;
spread this somewhat sparingly with a
clean, firm brush; then rinse and dry rs
above.
Mating should never be soaped. Take
itup, sweep and dust it well on both sides,
then wipe It with clean cloth wrung out
in salt and water, rubbing 1t dry with the
other hand as you go on, or, at any rate,
rs quickly as you can. so that it may re-
tain none uf the moisture. The same re-
mark applies to the cleaning of wicker
work.
The renovation of baths is often
vexed question, though il need not be SO.
A bath should never be allowed to be-
come stained i'm "well-regulated house
hold" If dried thoroughly every day
after use and secured once or twice q
week Gf necessary, TO remove the fur
and soap marks often Intensified by hard
water, etc, It will keep in perfect condi-
ton; but If il is just emptied out and half
dried. or not wiped at all, it will very soon
present a disgraceful appearance. Where
this is the case sand soap is the best
remedy, as it is for almost any stains from
any cause whatever, A bath will want
repainting when IL shows signs of rust
about once in eighteen months. This can
be done at home with little trouble by
using any bath enamel of known excel
lence. The great secret of successful
painting lies in adherng strictly to the
given directions, especially as TO removing
all traces OF old rust, paint, ETC., with sand
paper and pumicestone. When this is
accomplished wash the bath well with
boiling soda-water rinse, and dry il with
perfectly clean cloths; then, and not till
then, apply the new enamel.
10 clean Venetian Blinds: Let down the
blind secure the pull-up cord and unite
the knots at the bottom of the blind.
Slip out the thin laths one by one, being
careful TO leave the two cords hanging
very straight, so that they may neither be,
jerked of the rollers at the top, orpulled
out altogether. In this fashion the whole
blind can be removed with the exception
of the very bottom thick lath (kept in its
place by the webbing) and the top frame
work. IL is unnecessary to remove either
of the latter two, for now they can be
washed and wiped, with the framework,
without further trouble. Wipe the lad
dering and the cords with damp cloth;
wash the laths sinEly on q table with a
soft brush and soap and water. Dry
them thoroughly and replace them one
by one; rethread the cord and knot firmly.
When the laths are off see to the cords,
and If they are worn renew them thus:
then draw the pulling cord as If to raise
the blind, thus pulling the new piece over
the rollers when IL is in place cut off the
old and fasten the new in its stead; after
that thread the laths. The laddering is
best renewed by q competent workman,
though II will seldom wear out il the best
is used Blinds made of chintz, cretonne
or other material Will probably requirethe
yearly Intervention of a cleaner, unless
they are very carefully busted and wiped,
in order TO prevent the accumulation of
dust They could then be sufficiently
freshened by being taken down, laid on q
fiat surface and rubbed with fine bread
crumbs.
Polishing can be done with variety Of
patent preparations, but a very satisfaC-
tory and simple polish is a mixture of
linSeed oil and vinegar, put in bottle
and shaken before use. Dust the furni'
ture well, then rub on the mixture with
an old piece of flannel; only do small
area at a time, and polish quickly and
briskly with two or three soft rubbers
ending up with an old silk handkerchief
This homemade preparation is recon-
mended for this reason; patent polishes
creams, etc, may have satisfactory re-
suit as far as appearance goes but in time
they form sort of cake over the furni
ture, whereas the mixture of oil ant
vinegar polishes as well as removes stains
and grease.
AllOlcuHl, OH anu blutI lOoI NiOlllo ltAn
double the time and look much better il
waXed and polished after the fashion o.
stained floors, but with thinner prepara
ton. Some people, however, cling 10th,
more familiar washing process, in which
case il should be done with great care
Use a softer brush than for boards Will
soft soap. II is great improvement L
polish occasionally, after drying with
soft flannel sprinkled with sweet oil. !
the floor cloth is stained use hot sodi
water with littleturpentne and carboli
soap.
To clean mirrors take a piece OF clear
sponge squeezed dry dip il into SOM
spirits of wine, rub il over the glass, ant
this again Immediately after with SOM
powdered blueor whitening sifted through
muslin; wipe of the powder lightly am
briskly with soft cloth, then finally
polish with an old silk handkerchief. ID,
not 60 over more than a small space at
time, so that the spirits of wine may b
wiped OF before IL has dried, which /
does quickly. The whole secret of th
process consists in its rapidity.
ReIIos Of Arlluptau.