Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-16
REDUCE ZOE BILLS
NEWEST DEVICES THAT ARE
oFFERED.
Substitute for the Refriger-
ator In the Coun-
try.

The question of the hour with the average
housekeeper is. "How to Keep Down the
Ice Bill?" After relaxing from the demands
of the gas and the coal companies. she finds
herself face to face with the problem OF
keeping down the consumption OF Ice, anu
here she finds that carelessness on the part
of her servant will add materially to her
account with the ice man.
A simple device for protecting the ice
supply Is, to all appearances. pad OF felt
between sheets Of coarsely woven wire. II
should measure an inch less than the refrie-
orator, all the way round. to permit circu-
Iation. Before laying 1t under the Ice 1t u
dipped in cold water.
Directly the pad becomes damp from con-
tact with the Ice 1t throws out blast OF
cold air which completely envelops the ice
and reduces the rate of melting. ~
should be cleaned and aired every time the
refrigerator Is cleaned.
For keeping the refrigerator sWeet-smeh-
ing. employ charcoal In Jumps. Nothing
is 50 efiicacious. A little bit goes long
way.
The daily cleaning Of the refrigerator IS
often done In a sloyenly manner anu 10
disastrous to the supply OF Ice. Some serv-
ants mix this task In with their dish wash
ing and morning work. prolonging II un-
necessarily. In reality 1t should De cone
with dispatch and system. These directions
worth considering:
The Proper Way.
"Before cleaning the refrigerator remove
all articles of food to a table or shelf WITHIN
easy reach. Have ready In the stationary
tubs or an ordinary wash tub plenty OF hoe
water, softened with dash OF housenoi"
ammonia and good white soap which ls Iree
from odor. Plunge into this an the she I've,
on which the ice rests. The ice snouid %
raDned I'm newspaper and set In the cooi-
est spot available. When the nxtures arg
washed. set them out In the sun 10 ar
and sweeten. -, 80
with the same suds wash the walls OF
the refrigerato rinsing thoroughly the iaol
few times with cold water brihs Az , ~.
fixtures. dip them in cold water. MT snenr
into the refrigerator, remove the paper
from the ice, return 1t to the proper coni
partment, lay a newspaper over II ana snu'
the door. Then, as quickly as possipie, re-
turn all food to its proper place anu en0'
I'D the refrigerator. ,,,
receptacles a refrigerator should not Do
cleaned more than twice a week.
Medium priced refrigerators are ln ash or
oak the dark woods no longer hndlns IA
yor. The newest fittings do not snow zilfc
or galvanized iron, but even the proao
shelves for holding heavy 1000 sup9he'
are made from stout wire. crlss-crosseo.
nected with a sewer or outdoor drainage
enc NAV buy a new ard clearly trap Tor
carrying the water into the waste pan.
For the Waste Pipe.
This trap Is attached to the waste pipe
from the ice compartment, and Is cone
sbaped Inside the cone-shaped piece Is
corrugated center of metal not unlike
balf-open umbrella, which comes to sharp
closed point. The water from the Ice runs
into this corrugated piece, and, fnding no
outlet at the point, is forced upward again
and pushes its way through tiny openings
with a pressure first downward ana theh
upward. ,...,. ,,-;r-
All odors pass out through the little WIN.
dows and not upward into the ice cnest
proper The trap can De rehoseu anu
cleaned daily.
MANY families who take summer cot
.tags for a month or so do not WISH W
move out good furniture. including q Well
made refrigerator. For the short stay.
oaIyanized iron tub can be made to serve
all purposes and 1t Will not WASTE Tie iSo'
if properly cared Tor.
It should be lined with newspapers anu
the ice. placed in the center OF the euo.
should he wrapped first in newspaper ana
then in heavy piece of old blanket. be
tween the ice and the wall of the taD tlers
such as are seen In egg cases snooiu seai,u,
so that the food will be raised above the
water which will naturally accumulate
1t Is q mistake to think that milk potties.
butter lars, etc, must sit directly against
the ice. Between the wrapped Ice and the
lined walls Of the tub there Will be q cur
rent of air sufficient to keep the perishaple
food in good condition; and II over all Is
wool or carpet less Ice will be consumed
hon In average r0frlReratOF.