Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02
THE SPRING CLEANING
Clearing Out Dirt and Dust
From Every Place.
BEGIN IN THE CELLAR
60 OVER EACH ROOM, AND EsPE-
CIALLY THE CLOSETS.
Putting Away Many Ornaments for
the Summer Simplifes
the Work.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The scientist who evolves a theory for
eliminating dust and dirt is the coming
genius who will be dear to the heart of the
modern woman. Just think of the Joy of
living when cleaning-the all-round regular
spring dig-shall be no more Sanitary
housekeeping run on a strictly non-sweep
ing, non-dusting and non-cleaning basis
what bliss the very thought suggests!
Then consider the extra time the poor,
overworked housewife would have for her
hygienic cooking class, the mothers meet
ings. the afternoons devoted to child study
and-shades of Lethe. raise your magic
spell; you had almost lulled me into for
getting the ethical culture. pyschic research,
the society for political study and all the
rest Of the cults which must be cultivated
Unfortunately we have not arrived at
that state Of perfection when the moths
and microbes have ceased from troubling
and the weary woman can be at rest. But
this housekeeping question is an all-rOund
one which menaces the peace of the mas
culine as we'll as of the feminine humans
If there Is one thing more than another
in the way of domestic torture against
which the spirit of the average man re-
volts, 1t Is that terrible period devoted to
spring cleaning.
He knows that his writing desk will be
overhauled, his curtains removed by force
and his carpet probably taken from be-
meath his feet If the process Is aggravat.
Ing to the passive man, 1t 1s far more of
worry and responsibility to the prudent and
active housewife, who feels bound to direct
and supervise, If not actually lend hand
in these operations,
Like everything else. housekeeping is
easy If you know how. Every experienced
housewife has her own particular idea as
to the best way to freshen up her home;
consequently the following hints are not
for her.
The ideal fashion is to put the house in
the hands Of a professional house cleaner,
go off for spring recuperation until 1t IS
all over then come into your own again, re-.
freshed In mind, body and material sur
roundings.
This method may sound expensive, but
the professional cleaners charges are not
excessive, and in many cases it is only q
choice Of paying the cleaner or the doctor.
The Old Way Liked.
Still the great ma jority of women stay at
home and wrestle with the proposition
themselves.
The only sane method Of cleaning a
house. to my mind, is to take it room by
room. and not have an upheaval of the en-
tire place. This gradual treatment can be
done in such quiet and systematic order
that the modus operandi is not felt, but
only appreciated in the added comfort OF
cool and summary surroundings.
The cellar should be the first part of the
house to feel the Transforming touch.
rake has been found the only effectual i'm
plement for in some cellars, but after
the loose collection Of winters dirt has
been picked up most Of them respond very
nicely to a good. vigorous washing of the
walls and floor with strong solution Of
chloride of lime and a coat of whitewash.
When possible, the winters supply Of coal
should be put in before the Clean" as the
coal dust is mighty apt to take off the pris
tine beauty Of the freshly whitewashed
walls.
Next in order is the kitchen. The spring
work in this department Is, or should be,
one of wedding out of worn utensils and
the rearranging of pantries and cupboards.
The well-kept kitchen being overhauled
every week does not stand in need Of a
semi-yearly clean.
To clean utensils q washing IN soda to
cut the grease and securing with some
good preparation will work wonders. Sand
or ashes used on the outside of pots Is
another remedy, but where utensils reach
stage where a bath Of boiling water for
hours is their only cure it were better ana
cheaper to buy new outfit.
Floor to Ceiling.
In the dining room the floor is the impor
tant consideration. If rugs are the furnish
ing. they should be sent to a reliable house
to be washed or carpets to steaming cs-
tablishment. Many housewives do not know
the value Of this washing of rugs but in
oriental countries they appreciate just what
1t does to soften and bring out the colors
as we'll as lengthen the life of the rug It,
SELF After the rugs come home from the
wash" the work of rolling them in moth
paper and sewing securely in bags is in
order
A trick worth remembering for polish
ing fine glass is to dust 1t over with bag
in which is little powdered indigo, after
ward polishing with channels.
Kerosene will clean the windows and mir
rors and give them high luster, not only
in the dining room we are discussing, but
all over the house. 1t is also efficient in
making dull brasses shine with the aid of
a little sweet Oil put on after the polishing
and then wiped dry. A tested recipe for
CLOSING over marks on furniture is as fol-
lows:
Set one ounce of beeswax and one ounce
of CASTLE soap in Jar with half pint of
cold water in a moderate oven stirring oc-
casiOnally. When perfectly melted and cold,
add half pint Of spirits of turpentine AMI
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