The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-10-07
Housekeeping Hints
For the Season.

The following suggestions from presume
bly, a good authority reproduced for
the benefit of the young housekeepers, for
1t is well known that those of long ex-
perience have their own methods, which
are not amenable to change. II have
found writes this experienced woman,
that the proper course of housekeeping
is opposite that of the road to success. 1t
is not from the bottom upward, but from
the top downward. always commence my
cleaning on the top floor and work down.
ward. This 1 think the wisest plan, be-
cause that portion of the house completed
one need not use it again until the last
room has been garnished and sweetened
rooms are kind of supply department to
which frequent visits are made ind where
some of the tiny debris from the cleaning
wave is sure to lodge To be explicit the
upstairs rooms need not be soiled during
the housekeeping process
IF the furniture" she continues sis of
highly polished wood and the time at your
command admits 1t is best to polish 1t
with the palm of your hand or even your
thumb, according to the French custom.
If not a careful going over with a soft,
damp cloth will suffice.
This done, and the windows wide open
to aid you in your war with dust, you are
ready for attention to the wall and ceiling
If they be papered have found it best to
clean them with feather buster, over
which the finest cheesecloth has been tied
to prevent the 'streakiness' which a
feather buster is likely to leave upon the
wall The cheesecloth makes the busting
more even and thorough The papered
walls may be treated in the same way. A
bolt of the cheesecloth should be provided
for a house in which there are many
papered walls, for after the duster cover
has been passed over few feet of surface
it is too much soiled for further use. Neg
lect in changing it will multiply ones la
bors.
"Frescoed walls and ceilings require
cleaning with brush as soft as the one
you use for your bonnet.
''If the ceilings and walls of the bed
rooms and kitchen are painted they should
be gone over quicqly and thoroughly
with a damp woollen cloth. The cleaner
should be careful that every portion of the
wall dries quickly, that no disfiguring
high water marks be left If the walls be
kalsomined no moisture should touch them,
and they should be wiped down with a
cheesecloth-covered buster in the same
manner as the papered wall and ceilings.
We are ready now for the floor 1 need
not emphasize the necessity for hard
scrubbing with hot water and strong soap
and ammonia to take out the stains if the
floors be not of the hard natural or stained
woods. If the latter, they should be cleaned
with crude oil, with dash of turpentine.
Many believe that turpentine burns wood,
and that is true If much is used. A few
drops of turoentfne in quart of oil Is
enough to cut the oil, and will aid in clean
ing. A wooden cloth, preferably a flannel
one, should be used in the application Of
crude oil to floors.
If one is so fortunate as to have a we'll
kept lawn, it is well after beating carpet
lightly to draw 1t back and forth many
times over the grass. 1t Is remarkable how
this primitive treatment removes the dust
and freshens the colors. Apropos of this,
nature is kind in another particular. The
sprinkling of little snow over carpets in
winter before sweeping wonderfully fresh
ems their color. A few drops of ammonia
In water will perform the same office for
carpets and silk curtains, unless they are
hopelessly faded
The cleansing of the glasses are the only
liberties to be taken with the water colors
Picture frames must be treated as vari-
ously as people. The old-fashioned gilt