The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-03
THE FALL OPENING 50 WEARING
AND TRYING TO THE HOuSEKEEPER
Airing and Cleaning of Rooms and CIosets-Scour-
ing Out of Ice Boxes

Opening houses for fan use is a diff
flcuIt task that many housewives must
accomplish within the next few weeks
when the majority OF families who have
been living in the country all summer re-
turn to their city homes Getting ready
for occupancy the apartments that have
been shut all summer. is quite as much
labor as closing one preparatory for the
vacation OF sOiOurn out of town, fer
after being vacant If only few weeks.
the entire house must be thoroughly
summed. aired and cleaned; bedding put
out Of doors. pounded and summed; clos
cts ventilated and the ice box put into
condition TO receive food. Then. too, all
the drain pipes must be cleansed. the
gas both for cooking and illumination
turned on, ali dishes, pans and pots
washed out with hot water and suds.
windows cleaned. curtains hung and
rugs after sweeping or beating put into
place. Even the covers, or slips, should
be removed from the furniture so that
when the family arrives everything will
be in order and the atmosphere in the
house will be one of comfort and quiet,
with no suggestion Of the work that
has been necessary to bring order into
the various rooms.
This cleaning and Strengthening should
be done from one TO three days before
the household arrives. so that there
will be no unpleasant odOr OF close
ness, and by taking plenty OF time for
this work the details that go 70 make
rooms attractive will not be forgotten.
For instance. the pictures that have
been put away or covered with cheese
cloth 10 keep out dust can be hung in
place and the bric-a-brac that adorns
the walls or mantels in parlors, dining
and bedrooms may be washed and set in
familiar spots.
Begin the work of cleaning and put
ting in order with the closets. They
must be swept, the floors, If bare, wash-
ed with hot water and suds, and the
walls wined down with a regulation ion
brush or cloth around broom; then the
doors left open for ventilation. for these
small rooms into which the wearing
apparel is to be put must be Tree rom
any odor when the family arrives. Fin
ished with the closets, the hardwood
floors should be wiped up with a rag
and luke warm water, then rubbed 10
polish. If there are carpets these
must be given a thorough sweeping.
and after the dust has settled the walls
should be carefully wiped down so no
dust viii be left on the paper or ceiling.
With clean warm water, soap had
tCaspOOnful of ammonia the windows
should be washed and quickly dried with
ChamOlS, etc, TO leave no Strcaks. The
molding. doors. and base board must
be busted first with a dry cloth and then
with a damp one. Before laying rugs,
where they are used, put them out in
the sunshine fOp several hours, and give
a rounding with a stick TO dislOdge any
moths that might have worked into the
weave. Before putting up hangings that
have been packed away the best plan is
TO place then on line az let them air
for several hours. Curtains freshly
Numbered should be shaken before be-
ing put up to get out all the creases or
wrinkles caused IN packing.
Each gas Jet should be tried after the
gas has been ordered turned on" to
make sure all viii give light, and
stove should be similarly tested.
1t is Il good plan to cleanse the drain
pipes from the kitchen sinks, bath room
and bed room bowl with solution Of