The Washington times., 1894-03-18
KbOUf th6 HOUSE
In Springtim0

The gloomy period of Spring house-clean-
ing is arriving. and already housekeepers are
exchanging ideas on the proper way to clean
blankets. Some women like to have them dry
cleaned" and others maintain that dry-clean-
ing is totally inadequate to remove the impur-
tiles gathered in four months constant use
Some women wash, rinse and ring them as
they would so many sheets, and marvel at
their discolored. unattractive appearance
when they are dry
clear, sunny. windy dayis the proper one
to select for cleaning the blankets, and only
one pair should be done at time The first
act in the process is to hang them on the line
and shake all the dust out OF them. A pound
OF soap cut in small pieces and boiled in u
couple OF quarts of water until it is dissolved
and then mixed with half a pound of pow
dered boraX should be added to half tub of
water no hotter or colder than the outside
air. Into this the blankets Should be pressed
They should not be rubbed. When they have
soaked for couple of hours rinse them in
several waters, all OF the same temperature as
the outside mir. When the water in which
the blankets have been rinsed is clear they are
clean and it is time to hang them out. They
should be wrung, but hung out dripping Wet.
III the waters have been kept at the right tenn
perature there viii be no shrinking They
must be hung perfectly even. In five or six
hours they will be perfectly soft, clean. sweet
and fresh.
When you start in to clean a room there
are certain things to be done that will facili-
tate you greatly in your task, provided you
follow them out Systematically. To begin
with, remove the draperies and dust and
remove all small articles. All the furniture
should be busted, the light pieces taken out.
the heavier ones covered after this has been
done.
Brush the walls and ceiling carefully. re-
moving the dirt from the tops Of doors and
windows. Dust and cover the pictures.
Brush the window frames, sills, and blinds,
being careful not TO create too great a dust.
After this first step is taken the floor de-
mands your attention. If there are rugs on
it roll them up and send them out of doors to
be brushed and beaten. After all the win
dow cleaning and brushing is over rub the
floor with 1. soft dry cloth.
Ii your room is carpeted sprinkle the carpet
with slightly dampened corn meal and use a
ciean proom Alter the sweeping is over for
'"S hioe ict lHe uuSI settle, ana LneQ
sweep nightly again. Next dust the room and
wash the windows and remove the covers
from furniture and pictures. If YOU want
your carpet TO look particularly nice wiring a
cloth out in tepid water and ammonia and
wipe the surface.
After the rugs have been beaten and shaken
replace them on the floor and put back the
furniture, draperies, and ornaments. Having
done ihis you can settle down comfortably.
knowing that at least one room in your house
mas been attended to as it should be.
A veteran and most successful wasber-
woman says that the secret Of well-lanndried
clothes consists Of three things: "sortinr
soaking, and sunshine" There are NJ
course, other processes, but these are the
most important features connected with
laundry work.
On the day before washing the clothes |
should be sorted into several plies. bodv |
linen, household linen, fine things. coarse |
ones and fannels. Each article should he |
noistened, rubbed with soap, and But to soat
N warm water. The next day the washing