Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02
DUsTLEss SWEEPING.
Suggestions for Cleaning oilcloth-
Taking Grease From Carpets.

There is no end to little things that serve
as first aids to housekeepers," as 1t were
suggestions that not only make work easier
but also help to preserve the furnishings OF
articles For Instance, stair carpet should
never be swept with long handle broom
but always with a short one, and a dust pan
held under each step. This in the end
saves work, for the dust does not fly and
therefore the halls are not made dirty by it.
Another thing to remember about carpets
at this season. or soon when they are to be
taken up for the spring clea ming is that the
floors If washed shall be quite dry before
the carpets are tackled down again. Other
wise the nails will rust and make bad places
in the WOOL
Grease spots may be removed by means
of paste made of boiling water poured on
equal quantities of magnesia and fuller's
earth. This paste. while it is hot, must be
placed on the spots. and brushed off when
quite dry.
Most housekeepers know that oilcloths
should never be scrubbed in hot or cold wa
ter. but comparatively few realize how the
glaze may actually be preserved and at the
same time cleaned. This cleansing is &C
complished by mixture made of two
ounces of glue and a pint of water. Stand
In warm place until the glue is melted
If liquid when cold, it is fit for use; II
not. little more warm water should be
added First wash the oilcloth with warm
water and a soft cloth. and then dip linen
rag into the mixture and with it rub the
oilcloth. Let it dry. After this application,
only busting will be required for some time
Occasionally. to brighten a dark color. use
little milk or sweet OIL If done carefully.
small amount of beeswax and turpentine
may be used. but this requires good deal
of dry rubbing afterward or the surface will
be sticky and show foot marks.
Care of Brooms.-Brooms dipped for few
minutes in boiling suds once week will la st
much longer than they otherwise would.
They should Immediately afterward be
plunged into cold water to stiffen the straw.
This weekly bath is an excellent thing, for
1t so thoroughly cleans this dust-gathering
implement. II housekeeper will take the
trouble occasionally to clip the edges Of the
straws, the cleansing powers will be i'm
proved. This is because constant use sharp
ems the ends and they do not gather the
dust as well as when square-their first con-
dition.
How to Clean Wall Paper-An English
method of cleaning wall paper Is one well
worth knowing, for 1T is simple and better
than any dusting Make a paste by mixing
four pounds of common wheat -four and two
pints of cold water, kneed this into a stiff
dough and form into two or three balls
Wipe the paper all over with it. and as the
dough becomes dirty work the soiled parts
into the middle and the clean parts outside
This quantity will be sufficient to clean
very large room. Begin at the top of the
paper and work downward till all is fresh
ened.
1t takes up the dirt like a charm and
win not injure the most delicate color. Only
the quantity required for one cleaning
should be made for the outside will harden
If allowed to stand and this crust worked
into the mass would scratch the paper.
To Keep Irons from Neutrality-suspicious.
that are put away for a few weeks often get
rusty, and the best way to prevent this is
to rub a little warm grease over the surface
and then wrap them up in brown paper.
When taken out dip into hot water that has
had a small piece of soda dissolved in 1t,
rub dry and then put them to heat in the
usual way When they are ready to be used
on the ironing board have a piece of brown
it. and rub the surface Of your iron with
this. 1t seems rather lengthy process, but
1t really does not take long to do, and
housewives will be rewarded for the trouble
they have taken by finding the irons delight
fully smooth and easy to USE and when
they are like this the work can be done
twice as quickly.
Decanter Stains ACKNOWLEDGMENT that
are stained inside may be made quite clean
by cutting raw potato into small dice and
putting them into the bottle with warm wa
ter and ammonia. Shake well and let stand
for couple Of hours. shaking again occa-
sionaliy. Rinse in cold water, when the
stains will be quite gone. For the outside
either soda or ammonia Is good.
The quickest way Of removing a glass
stopper is to pour small quantity of aleo-
hol around II and on the mouth of the bot
tie. touch a match to make a flame. When
It is done burning pull out the stopper. This
Is the easiest and quickest way IL bottles
are large, but somewhat dangerous IL they
contain combustible ingredients.