Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-04-29
LADIES' COLUMN .
HOUSE CLEANING.

dow sash is perfectly clean. Dust
first, then wash, using warm water
softened by a little ammonia. If
there is dirt in the corners, dig it out
with wooden skewer. If two can
work on the windows at once the
work is better done as we'll as easier,
for it can readily be seen whether a
spot is inside the pane or not. Before
cleaning the windows take off the
shutters and scrub with soap and wa
ter, finishing with douche from the
hose. Half the dirt that spatters a
window with the first shower after
housekeeping would not have hap
pened if the winter dirt had been
washed from the shutters. Use tepid
water with ammonia and squeeze the
washing cloth almost dry before be-
ginning. The window on which a
quantity of water is stopped can
hardly be got dry and is very hard to
polish. When the dirt has been re-
moved, wipe with a dry rag until it
grows damp. The best window pol
Usher known to the writer is handful
of scraps of fine, clean chamois tied
together on a string. Three or four
Of these can be used for years if
cleansed and dried as soon as the job
is finished. And the "must have" for
window cleaning is rags of the right
sort, that do not shed lint, perfectly
clean and plentiful enough to be re-
jected as soon as they grow damp.
Mirrors need the same treatment as
windows
Do not touch polished furniture with
water unless the furniture be abso-
lutely dirty; then sponge it quickly
and polish afterward with a mixture
of oil and turpentine. Leather furni-
ture requires wiping with a rag wrung
from hot milk. Here is a recipe for
homemade furniture polish which
may be used on leather or polished
furniture: Set a pound of wax in a
bowl in the mouth of teakettle and
after it has melted beat in one pint of
turpentine. Divide the polish into
two parts. To one part add half a
cup of alcohol. Bottle it and mark
FURNITURE polish" To the rest add
half cup of parafine oil, and that
bottle label "fioor polish"
How certain mistress taught her
servant to clean woodwork: She did
not lay down hard and fast rules such
as go in at one ear and out at the
other. She took a strip of board
painted white on one side and varnish-
ed on the other. Each side she
touched with a rag wrung from hot
water in which salsoda had been dis
solved. Immediately the surface was
left dull and rough. A pail filed
with hot water left an unsightly circle
on the vanished side. Immediately
the mistress dropped on each spot a
few drops of olive oil and rubbed it
briskly into the wood. After a few
minutes hard rubbing the smooth
surface was restored. 1t was a most
effectual lesson on how carefully one
has to use strong alkalis, such as am
monia, potash, soaps and salsoda.
1t also taught how, by quick action,
spoiled spot on the woodwork might
be quickly restored to color and polish.
Always begin at the top and work
downward in washing paint. Have
the wash cloth as dry as possible and
never wet more than yard square at
once.
When the cleaning of the kitchen
has been finished look to the sink
niy,oc Finch r1o1l with
then pour into them a strong solution
of salsoda. Treat every pipe in bath
room, kitchen and cellar to a dose of
this solution.
Give to the cellar the most thorough
cleaning of any part of the house, for
healthy foundation means the
health of the home. See that there is
not morsel of decaying vegetable or
fruit left anywhere, and be liberal |
with whitewash. Leave the furnace
coal and wood bins clean. Stop up
mouse holes after filling them with |
chloride of lime. Modern cellars are
built with drain pipe in the cement |
floor, which allows of the interior |
walls and floor being flushed with a
hose after thorough sweeping and |
busting, This is an excellent plan, |
only remember always to follow it j
with all the fresh air possible-per
haps even wood fire in the furnace
else the cellar will grow damp and
unhealthy.
Bronzes must be carefully cleaned.
Dnof With coft hrn5h than rnh NTH
cloth moistened slightly with sweet
OIL Rub dry with soft rag and
polish with chamois-Good House