Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13

If Turkish rugs are left on the floor
through the summer-and they are quite as
well there as anywhere weekly exposure
to the fresh air and sunshine. with a good
brushing with a stiff broom. will be all that
Is necessary. If they are soiled. a thorough
washing every year or two will keep them
in splendid condition If large they are
better sent to rug cleaner: but small rugs
may be washed at home. using cold or
lukewarm water. a scrubbing brush and
any good soap. Rinse well and hang in the
open air to dry. If one has a hose the
rinsing is more easily accomplished by
turning that on them.
Wall Draperies.
Rugs or other draperies on the walls re-
quire a closer watch than rugs on the floor.
Frequent shaking and beating will be all
that is essential. If during absence moths
should have gotten in, shake the rug we'll,
then spread on the ironing board. face
down. spread a wet cotton cloth over 1T and
iron with hot iron. The steam will do the
work.
Upholstered Furniture.
Upholstered furniture which is left unused
for considerable periods in the summer
should be sprayed occasionally with BEN
most delicate fabric. Caution must be ex-
inability. Never use either preparation with
any light in the room. Another means of
protecting articles is to wipe them over
with a dilute solution of corrosive sublmate
in alcohol. made weak enough so as not to
leave any white stain.
An easy way to apply the naphtha or
benzine is to put 1t in small watering
pot, such as Is used for sprinkling house
plants.
To Suppress the House Fly.
A Partisan journal last year offered a
prize of $1,000 for the best essay on the de-
struction of the house fly. The money was
finally awarded, among hundreds Of COM
petitors. to an Investigator who wrote that
resduum oil poured on the eggs or larvae
of flies would surely destroy them. For
city stables and the barns of farms-for 1t
is q well-known fact that the greatest
breeding place for flies is the stable-he
recommended that the oil be mixed with
earth. lime and phosphates. The United
States Department of Agriculture has start
ed similar crusade in this country and
the chief of the bureau Of entomology has
recommended that all stable cleanings be
Immediately carried away or confined In a
tight receptacle until they can be removed.
A little oil thrown over such places where
the fly is apt to lay its eggs will help
exterminate the insect and give 1t no
chance to breed. Scientists have proved
that beyond question the fly is not only a.
epidemics that sweep over communities in
the hot season have been traced directly
to the fly. Having it's origin in filth, it
carries with 1t the bacteria that breed in
filth. The high mortality among children
in the tenements where families are closely
crowded together and refuse accumulates
rapidly, Is due in many instances to the fly.
They specially fond Of milk. and drink
ing from it, plant bacteria in 1t which
breed rapidly. Typhoid germs. it is be-
lieved, are frequently communicated in this
way.
Screens and fly paper, to catch occasional
intruders, are the essentials in keeping
these untidy creatures at bay. If number
get in room they may be effectively driven
out by darkening the apartment, leaving
only window or door light Then with
a brush made Of cutting paper in strips.
and affixing 1t to a handle SO that it may
be welded with vigor and much noise, the
intruders may be "shooed' toward the Hight
and out into the open.
Homemade Fly Potion.
A good homemade fly potion consists Of a
tablespoonful each Of cream. powdered
black pepper and brown sugar mixed. Dark
en- the room. excepting one window, in
which set the saucer containing the mix
ture Kerosene is also a discourager of
flies. A weekly wiping over the outside of
window and door screens with kerosene
keeps flies from settling there ready for en-
trance at the first opportunity.
Fly Paper in the Wrong Place.
Almost every one from the family cat to
grave and reverend seignors manage to get
affixed to fly paper some time during the
season. To dislodge 1t apply vaseline freely.
Every time fresh sheet of fly paper is
opened lay it on a newspaper folded in two
or three thicknesses to little larger di-
mansions than the fly paper. Fold the sur
plus an inch or so over like frame and
fasten Just to the edge of the sticky por-
ton. This weighs down the fly paper so
that 1t does not fly off at every breath Of