Evening star., 1908-01-23
TO WASH WINDOWS
If You Want to Prevent Streaks,
Use PAPER to Polish.

Certainly there is nothing that adds SO
much to the attractiyenesS of a houSe
whether outside in, as clean. bright
windows Indeed. il has been said that
the condition of the windows reveals the
character Of the housekeepar.
Some way the task of window cleaning
is looked upon with particular disfavor,
| compared with almost any other branch
| Of household work. 1T takes so long and
| one can never be certain of results.
many women say. Smears and streaks
| have a trick of showing up in most
unsishtly way just as soon as the VIM
( dowS have been cleaned
| Now, the length of time 1t takes 10 90
| the work. as we'll as the result. depends
entirely upon the method used
| Some housekeepers pin their faith to
pail of water. soap and rags. others pre-
| fer the dry cleaning process. while third
! person simply uses "a dry rag on damp
! day" Still, a damp day is not always q
| convenient one to every housekeepef, so
| some other plan must be adopted. IN
| doubtedly a damp-not a rainy-day is the
| best time for cleaning windows, but fall
! ing this. then they may be done on dry
| day, providing the sun is not shining on
| the glass.
| Persons who prefer to have the windows
! washed with water-and I confess that /
! am one of them-wiI obtain the best re-
suits by using only a small quantity OF
water, adding one or two teaspoonfuls OF
alcohol. The water should be warm and
small chamois wrung out of the solu-
ton and applied to the windows VIII re-
move any dust, mark or stain. The pane
should then be wiped with a dry, soft
rag and finally polished with a dry
| chamois, or. better still. old newspapers.
Indeed. there is nothing better for a
finish for either process than a good rub
with a newspaper. Both chamois and
rags may possibly be in a condition to
leave a streak or smear, but newspapers
can be perfectly clean; besides, the
printers. ink makes an excellent polish.
Moreover, they have the merit of cheap
ness and are always available.
The dry process shows better results If
used on bright. dry day. and is perhaps
the best method for cleaning in very cold
or frosty weather
A little whiting mixed to the consistency
of cream, to which few drops of am
monia have been added is applied to the
entire surface of the window with
small, soft rag. rubbing fairly hard. This
is allowed to become perfectly dry and is
then removed with d large, soft cotton
cloth without nap. Cheese cloth is eX-
cellent, but nothing should be used that
Will leave lint.
Lastly. polish with clean chamois or
with the newspapers. Watch for any
marks of the dry whiting left upon the
sash. for nothing is more unSightly. Ii
the removal of this polish is not effected
by dry rag. moisten it with warm water,
wrap around the first finger and try that,
taking care not TO wet the glass or the
result may be an ugly streak. making it
necessary. perhaps, to wash the entire
pane again.
There is very good securing soap upon
the market that may he used instead of
the whiting, but ordinary soap, as it Is
understood. should never be applied. OBJ
stinate spots. such as paint. may be re-
moved with turpe ntine. and ii goes with
out saying. should be removed before the
general cleaning is commenced. Windows
of new houses are often badly stained and
paint spattered, and it is of no use trying
to clean them until such blemishes are
obliterated
Ii one is prepared for window cleaning
on a damp day when just mist appears
upon the glass then a dry rag and lastly
a newspaper are all that are necessary if
vigorously applied. This is the quickest
process of ALL but none is particularly
formidable if gone about in a methodical
way.
The main points to be remembered are
never to clean windows with the sun
shining them, to have plenty of dry
cotton cloths a number of old news
papers OH hand, and i'll no case TO use too
much water.