The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-14
ART IN SWEEPING,
Some Points That May he Useful Even to
Experienced Uousekrcpers

| Every housekeeper knows there is a
certain art in sweeping room which
requires skill and patience. says the N.
Y. Tribune. All the difference between
n refined, daintily kept parlor and "A
| loungingroom defiant with dust and
disorder lies in the proper doing of
this simple work. The great mistake
which the novice in sweeping makes is
to take long. heavy strokes. These
are maniiestly labor thrown away.
The object OF sweeping is not to wear
out the carpet. Ii is to brush the dust
out of the carpet. Short, light. even
| strokes do the work as it should be
done. In any carpet it is always best
to sweep it once with the grain, and
then again across it. going over each
two or three yards of the carpet i'm this
way till it is all swept. Where there
is a fireplace it is we'll TO sweep toward
it to collect the dust in one pile.
Where the carpet is old and worn
even 1t Is not quite as necessary to
sweep il in both directions, but where
1t is new and there are perceptible
ridges in the weaving where dust may
be this caution is always necessary. A
Brussels or nap carpet should always
be swept in this way. There are many
excellent houses where there is not "A
proper equipment of BRUSHES brooms,
and dusting-sheets for sweeping. Be-
fore beginning TO sweep room all
pieces OF furniture which are easily
movable should be busted and set in
an adjoining room. All small pieces
of bric-a-brac and other articles which
are liable to catch the dust should he
removed. Large pieces of furniture,
like beds bureaus. and book cases.
should he carefully and closely cover
ed with dusting-sheets. The windows
should be opened and the blinds dust
cd, but ii the windows are TO be wash
ed it should be done after the sweep
ing. when the paint is wiped.
After the first sweeping of room il
is usually left for five or ten minutes,
for the dust to settle, when the ceiling
and walls may be busted with the long
hair brushes provided for the purpose.
TIE pictures should be busted with soft
dry cloths. Brushing around the
edges OF the carpet with Il whisk brush
is regular part OF the sweeping. and
should moi be omitted. Alter goinr
over II room thoroughly and allowing
the dust To settle. it is always necessary
To- brush ii over again. aud il is best to
do it with damp broom. so as to coll
lect all the dust. Wiping with damp
cloth wrung out as dry as possible
from water in which two tablespoons
fuls of ammonia have been put to
brighten faded colors and make the
carpet look fresh and new. Before
putting the furniture back into the
room all linger-marks and soiled spots
on the paint or woodwork should be
wiped off.
Ii there is fireplace the hearth
should he washed up and the ironwork
rubbed oil with rag gdampened slight
ly with kerosene oil. If there is brass
work il should be carefully polished.
The dusting-sheets may now be re-
moved and the furniture put back in
place. busted and fresh. Such sweep
ing as this is "A part of the regular
housework every week in house
where there are carpets. and every
room in the house should he swept as
thoroughly as this. While upon this |
subject il is well To suggest that Aousc-
keepers. who are buying heavy pieces
of furniture not easily moved, should !
purchase only such pieces As are lifted |
up on legs, leaving clear space for lhe |
broom To pass under aud collect the |
dust.