New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-21
(H6& SE$ 7T4LX5
MAKING OVER MATTRESSES A vyARNIN.3
TO HOCSEKEEPERS

January, by general consent being accented as
the season when housekeepers attend TO their store
closet of household linen. II has also become time
when bedding supplies of all kinds are carefully
examined with "a view to the needs OF the ensuing
year Mattresses are now taken out OF their covers
OF unbleached cotton and carefully examined
Those that have become matted and show hollows
in the centre or at the sides need making over
IL Is an excellent plan TO date hair mattresses In
some fnconspcuous manner and make II a rule to
have the hair picked over and the mattress remade
once I'm about three four years II the bed il
occupied every night. The bed Of ii spare room
which is only occasionally slept in may not need
making over once In ten years The fact that IT
has become lumpy and uneven Is a better guide to
Its condition than the time it has been IN use.
The family upholsterer. who formerly made his
rounds during the year working for ii.
each OF his customers. has long since been super
scded by the general establishments, which have
absorbed his labor and business. One is saved the
trouble and all penetrating dust that come from
the work IN the house but there are many objec-
tons TO sending mattresses TO general establish
ment. They are not carefully done az in the olden
time The "patent methods Of picking over the
hair not equal to the patient hand work of the
old skilled workman workwoman for many OF
these family upholsterers were women. strong In
their hands and masters OF their trade. They
given empty attic room. and in II their work
was done. The best materials for the purpose
whatever grade the hOuSekeeper desired used
given them There was no tempia ion for them to
replace clean hair with Old rags and other refuse.
inscriptions uphosterers have been
known TO do in their own establishments. There
was no danger Of having your material mixed with
other hair.
1t is unpleasant fact that certain mystery
turks about the renovated mattress, which has
been made over In general establishment. The
germs OF foul disease acquired at the shop may
now Turk in the freshly upholstered mattress the
tiny made-over bed Of the babys snowy crib.
1t should he remembered that beds OF the loves,
hotels and OF much more Objectionable public
sorts; the beds OF slovenly families. well the
beds OF neat families. are sent TO the general reno
vaior OF bedding
The regulations OF the Board OF Health demand
the disinfection of the bedding in tuberculosis and
al cases OF contagious disease, yet these laws are
occasionally evaded and there Is nothing TO pre-
vent the infected bedding of patients in the conn
TN beng 20 the city 10 be renovated Thus
the bed OF fever patient or OF a consumptive may
he beds OF healthy persons. OF from cribs. wait
ing their turn 10 be manr over lnr'",n do
dainty households
The general renovatne establishments have
means Of protecting itself against such condition
of things any more than the general laundry.
They do not make sanitary inspection Of The houses
from which their work IS sent The clerk Of one
Of these establishments which are usually bedding
houses for the sale Of well the renova-
ch.lake srnii" hat each bed is done by Itself
Every neat woman is fastidious about her bed
ding Queen Victoria carries her bed TO the vari-
Gus castles she occupies AZ different seasons.
well as on her occasional trips to the Continent
rhis Is luxury from which The majority or
ple are debarred Yet every Americans home
Should be his castle and every housekeepcr oughi
10 have the right 10 be fastdIous possible
in a matter on which comfort. AS well ms health
depends.
As matters now stand, many housekeepers bear
the lesser evils OF uneven bed and old ticks
rather than risk tho muliiform evils OF the general
renoyaiing bshinents. Occasionally
ssrvsf!ve workman may be induced to come to the
bnii O
The general esta bshments for the renovation
Of bedding are proper subject for discussion be
fore wOman's health clubs They should celtain,
be placed under the inspection OF the legal guar
d,s ms Of the public health.