The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-06-01
IN eEos AND BEDDING.
Isusekeepers Apt to Pay Too Little Alton
tion to NicetIes of Re~noyating.

ioh ~ NIctIitS VI ntuONdLluEs
Among the many duties of the house
wife there is one which is absolutely
neglected. Bedsteads and their furni-
ture rarely receive all the attention re-
quired for insuring health and perfect
cleanliness. In some houses beds are
instinctively left to be attended to at
the traditional spring cleaning" or
the mistaken notion that, as the mat
tresses are turned, the bed clothes re-
moved every day, etc. there is hardly
any possibility for the accumulation
of such an amount of dirt and dust as
might be uncomfortable or injurious.
The query has been made, Is this
spring cleaning inevitable? Is it neces-
sary to make a whole household
wretched and uncomfortable by con-
densing into n or two weeks the
cleanings and scrubbings which would
be far more satisfactory and cffectual
If carried out in an imperceptible man.
ner week by week, or month by month,
as occasion requires?
The iron bcdstead has advantages
over the Older wooden one: but both
~NA hNpt III DIIlIIt cIbCI "ltll Il
minimum amount of attention, pro-
vided this be given regularly.
The former harbor dust more than
n realizes. as car easily be seen by
lifting the laths where they cross one
another: these little nests. and every
corner should by busted with a brush
at intervals, and not unless this pre-
canton no n Ian nan ", hnaL+ ~
cleanliness.
The main enemies are dust. damp.
and moth. brushing must be extend
ed to the mattresses. which harbOr
dirt all along the edges. and especially
wherever a button is fiXel I.
A good plan is to tie a thick piece Of
cloth all eel the laths. under the mat
~trcsscs. This serves a double purpose;
it helps to keep the bedding clean and
saves much wear. as the sharp irons
cut into the mattresses and often cause
ironmold.
\ loose holland cover over the mat
tress, made to button tidily at one end,
alSo goes a long way toward keeping it
clean. This can be washed and changed
as often as need be without much
trouble OF expense.
Our grandmothcrs (who mostly Used
feather beds used to rcmake them at
very regular intervals. one room in the
house being devoted to the purpose.
the ladies Of the family. with their
heads tied up, themselves directing the
operations of uphOlstreSS and maids.
The feather bed is almost a thing of
the past. and. alas. individual atten-
beneath the consideration of many
housekeepcr> of the present day.
If the mattress. pillow or feather bed
only need freshcning. and space is not
too limited. the operation can be per-
formed at home. Unpick the ticking,
remove the flock of feathers. pick them
all over thoroughly. and expose them
for t~wenty-four hours to the sun and
the air.
If this process should be necessary
during the cold weather. light a large
fire in IA dry. airy room (which fire, by
the way. must be carefully screened.
as the least draught might cause the
feathers to fly about. and accidents
happen only too quickly.
The contents of pillows a easily be
baked in a large oven. but where
feather beds are concerned it would be
an endless matter.
The ncateSt way to put up valanceS
il to run them On to Il narrow wooden
lath fixed or merely laid on the bed
stead itself under the paillasSc.
The old-fashiOned heavy counter
pancS. which seemed essential to
every houscholdcr's happiness. are 60
ing out of use, chiefly perhaps because
they arc so difficult to keep clean,
Troublesome tn wash at home unless
there is a great deal of space. and very
Soon ruined by the average IaundresS
who does not forget to charge for get
ting them up.
If any unwclcOmc visitors should
make their appearance in wooden
frames. they are difficult to treat. on
account of the chinks in the wood;
nitric acid. however. soon diSpnscS of
the most obstinate eases.
Bcnzine collas i Il splendid cleansing
substance for iron: when. however. this
ma be considered too expensive. pure
paratiinc i Il most efficient substitute.
though it requires Il good deal of airing
to obviatc it, unpleasant smell. which
j. the greatest objection to its general
uSe.-The Queen.
BECAUSE THEY WERE MEN.
They Could Tell Each Other the Truth