St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-07-31
CLOGGING THE PIPES
A SENSIBLE SERMON ON HOUSEHOLD
SANITATION.

some Suggestions About the Plumb
ing and the Care That Should Be
Exercised In the Avoidance Both of
II 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
to 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 it
behoove every ,housemistress to look
\ well to the usage of her pipes and her
4 traps. t~34 sa. . .re f.s.jr,'-
4 A bit Of rag or even string, a burnt
match, wisp of hair, seems very lit
i 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 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
e doing 1t for weeks and weeks until
n deadly disease is rampant
A string snarled and twisted may
\ work the same i'll. The match end, of
A course, ought to float away harmless,
but is very much likelier to be caught
"a in some eddy of the flush water, JAM
" med into a crevice and there to take to
N itself other solid particles until they
Z form a clot both offensive and danger
Y GUS.
AS for hair, there is no end to the
s. harm it harbors. A wisp quickly forms
IA itself into sort of strainer, catching
N and holding all that passes. Aside
"A from that it has a trick of lodging in
& the most inconvenient places, catching
81 upon the least roughness inside the
pipe and staying there until by accre-
= ton it 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 it 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 il
through quickly, partly by mechanical
action, partly by chemical. Neither
should ever be permitted in 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
less carefully kept and cake and clog
your whole pipe system, making neces'
sary costly and inconvenient unclog
ging.
Every kitchen ought to have its grease
can, emptied once week in winter
and in summer every three days. AL
! sorts Of refuse fat should go into 1t
= even the scrapings from plates anC
dishes. Greasy water, as from boiling
hams or corned beef, should be allowed
to cool thoroughly, then have thu
grease carefully taken off before 1t goei
down the pipes. Skillets and frying
pans ought to be filled with very no
? soda water and let stand half an houl
before washing. This gives time TO
the soda to partly saponify the greas'
and keep it from sticking to the pip
or caking on top Of the trap.
In securing faucets be careful to keel
: the securing grit out of the joints
e Even the finest particles cut ava
screw threads turning many times
t day. After securing also take care I
= let the water run at least minute be
t fore catching any for use. In wasf
a ing sandy vegetables, as spinach, tut
e nips, potatoes, use big pan and dral
s off the dirty water, so the sand may D
o caught. Even a spoonful Of sand e
II ing down a pipe will cut and wear
d more than hogshead of water.
!" Milky water is one of the hardes
e things to manage. Even a small quar-
e tity daily fouls pipes unless the milk
a water is followed by flushing of sod
e water moderately strong, with lim'
Is water flush about every three day
The limewater is made more effectiv
a by adding salt to it. Sea salt is bes
Put lump as big as the fist in a
earthen or wooden vessel along wit
twice the bulk of quicklime and cove
with four gallons of hot water. ST
well and let settle. Pour the clea
liquid down the pipes and follow 1t
half an hour with flush of clear WI
ter boiling hot. Thus every kind or
sink may be kept sweet and fresh.
New York Sun.