Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-07-27
CLOGGING THE PIPES
A SENSIBLE SERMON ON HOUSEHOLD
SANITATION.

Ing and the Care That Should ID.
Exercised In the Avoidance Both o.
Expense and Disease.
Nowadays the plumber and his bill
are your true household specters. Like
other specters, careful common sense
will put them to rout and confusion
nine times In ten. Wise men have been
studying this subject ever so long to
devise plumbing that would take care
of itself, but they have not yet sue
ceeded Neither are they likely to
without revolution in mechanics
whereby the tendency of fluids always
10 seek their own level may be elimi-
mated and other things as wonderful
brought to pass. SO long as knowledge
remains nearly static so long will 1t
behoove every housemistress to look
we'll to the usage of her pipes and her
traps.
a bit Of rag or even string. a burnt
match, wisp Of hair, seems a very lit
tie thing, one that the pipes can carry
off with no possible hurt, but the rag,
by hanging over the bend of the trap,
may serve as a siphon to take away the
water SEAL which is all that stands be-
tween the household and unlimited
sewer gas. And the rag may keep on
doing 1t for weeks and weeks until
deadly disease is rampant
A string snarled and twisted may
work the same Ill. The match end, of
course, ought to float away harmless,
but Is very much likelier to be caught
in some eddy of the flush water. jam
med into crcvlce and there to take TO
itself other solid particles until they
form clot both offensive and danger
Gus.
AS for hair, there is no end to the
harm II harbors A wisp quickly forms
itself into a sort Of strainer catching
and holding all that passes. Aside
from that, it has a trick Of lodging in
the most incOnvenient places. catching
upon the least roughness inside the
pipe and staying there until by accre-
ton 1t has clogged the whole space.
Hair has special affinity for bits Of
soap. Solid soap, by the way, should
never be sent down the pipes. Very
strong soapsuds even Is Objectionable
unless you follow 1t with a flood of
clean water, preferably hot water
Coffee grounds and tea leaves either
clog n pipe very soon or else. If the
flush water prevents that. wear it
through quickly. partly by mechanical |
action. partly 10y chemical Neither |
should ever be permitted i'm n sink. |
Even if you are wise enough to keep |
out all grease and thus make sure that |
the grounds shall get safe away from
your own pipes. in the sewer they may |
come in contact with grease from pipes i
less carefully kept and cake and clog
your whole pipe system. making neces-
sary costly and nconvenicnt unclog-
ging.
Every kitchen ought to have It's grease
can. emptied once week in winter
and In summer every three days. All
sorts of refuse fat should 60 into 1t,
even the scrapings from plates and
dishes. Greasy water. as from boiling
hams or cOrned beef. should be allowed
to cool thoroughly. then have the
grease carefully taken off before 1t goes
down the pipes. Skillcts and frying
pans ought TO be filed with very hot
soda water and let stand half an hour
before washing. This gives time for
he soda to partly sapOnify the grease
md keep it from sticking to the pipe
Dr. caking on top Of the trap.
In securing faucets be careful to keep
he securing grit out of the joints.
Even the finest particles cut away
screw threads turning many times a
lay. After securing also take care to
ct the water run at least a minute be-
ore catching any for use. In wash
ne sandy vegetables, as spinach, tur-
lips. potatoes use a big pan and drain
If the dirty water. so the. sand may be
aught Even spoonful of sand go
ne down a pipe will cut and wear 1t
more than n hogshead of water.
Milky water IS one of the hardest
hngs to manage. Even small guam
ity daily fouls pipes unless the milky
water is followed by flushing of soda
water moderately strong, with lime
water flush about every three days.
he limewater is made more effective
" adding salt to it. Sea salt is best.
ut lump as big as the fist in an
arthen or wooden vessel along with
vice the bulk of quicklime and cover
yith four gallons Of hot water. Stir
yell and let settle. Pour the clear
quid down the pipes and follow 1t in
alf an hour with a flush of clear wa
er boiling hot. Thus every kind of
Ink may be kept sweet and fresh
'pw York Sim