The Portland daily press., 1900-06-20
go'SS2exa,2
tcoPYRoHTl
THE KITCHEN SINK.
by Anna Barrows.


The immaculate white porcelain sinks
OF the present day are a convincing
proof of the evolution which is taking
place in household appliances. The
wooden sink. with wooden spout, always
damp and practically impossible to
keep clean. a breeding place for bac-
teria, Is still in existence in too many
country dwellings, though II Is slowly
being superseded by sinks Of iron, soap
stone and slate.
Where there is a scarcity Of water.
not enough for the proper flushing OF
the sink pipes, a table or dry sink"
should be used for dishwashing. and the
waste water carried out by the pailful.
To keep drain pipes In good condition
an abundance Of hot water is essential,
and even the occasional use of soda may
be necessary. a few moments every
day spent in scraping dishes carefully
and wiping of grease with soft paper
may save time and expense in cleaning
grease from the inside of the pipes
later on.
Sometimes a sink Is not placed prop
erly, then the opening does not come at
the lowest point and the the water set
ties back and must be wiped out. This
should be looked after when the sink
Is put in, as it Is hard to remedy later.
If the corners of the sink are rounding
instead OF square the work Of the house
keeper will be lessened Too often sinks
are placed so low that the average wo-
man must stoop as she washes dishes.
Rather place it too high than too low. for
a short person can have something to
stand on.
A closet under the sink formerly was
considered essential, but is now general
~ condemned. II there is plumbing it
should be open and easily accessible,
while with the wooden sink a closed
place underneath can hardly fail to be
damp.
There should be a wide shelf on either
side Of the sink that soiled dishes may be
put on one side and the other reserved
for the clean ones. 1t matters little
whether dishes are washed from left to
right or right to left provided the pro-
cess is arranged to save steps. The clean
dishes should come to the shelf nearest
the closest in which they are to be
placed.
One or two shelves above the sink are
convenient for keeping bottles of am
monla and dissolved sal-soda and boxes
OF borax, silver polish. etc; but shelves
In any place should not be crowded nor
allowed TO become catchalls. When
room is limited cover is sometimes
used over the sink, making table for
ironing. etc.
Among other useful appurtenances
for the sink is a three-cornered wiro
basket to place over the drain, in which
ali bits of solid matter are caught as the
dishwater is pouring through it. This Is
easily emptied and must be kept clean,
like every other article used about the
sink.
Instead OF the basket a small shovel
and sink scraper combined can be pro-
vlded at small cost A whisk broom Is
often used but is not easily kept clean.
A small scrubbing brush is useful fon
cleaning vegetables and some utensils,
notably the crater. Another brush or
different shape, to avoid confusion, may
be provided for cleaning the sink. though
a cloth Is usually better.
Better than knife for scraping any
burned saucepan or kettle is piece or
pumice stone. Sandsoap OF some sort is
essential, and a good grade of soap,
home e-made perhaps, should be proVld-
ed for dlshwashlng. A soap shaker OF
oblong shape, like cake of soap, is pre-
ferrable to the older fashioned round
one. Wooden skewers from the meat
market, or longer pointed sticks are
convenient for cleaning seams and cor
ners In dishes.
A deep dish pan, drainer, mop, an
iron dish cloth, and an abundance OF
towels of different grades are necessi-
ties for dish washing. a supply OF small
rags. which can be used once for seour-
ing a burned pan or cleaning a piece OF
silver and then burned are very con-
venient.
Where water must be pumped and
carried from the sink to the stove and
back to the sink when heated paper
pail is desirable. for it Is lighter, If not
as desirable as wood. When the water
comes in pipes hut must be heated in
tank on the stove, a piece Of hose can
be connected with the faucet for fll-
ing the kettles.
A wash basin for the hands, If re-
ouired, should be kept in its own place
and not be allowed in the sink all the
time. but that Is sometimes seen.
With the porcelain sink Is coming
new era Of cleanliness.