New-York tribune., 1910-07-24
All Abotxf tie Icebo<.
Many Are the Virtues of the Modern Makes
but Carelessness Neutralizes Them.

fresh air. but not in a draft or where
winds can reach II.
Do not let the drain pipe connect with
waste pipes that lead finally to the sewer
There may be danger from sewer gas In
the city pan to catch the drippings is to
be preferred in spite of the bother In
suburban and country homes the drain
pipe of the refrigerator can be connected
with a waste pipe leading out to grassy
plot at the back Of the house Put tall
fern or other plant that likes moisture
near the outlet to hide It The drippfngs
VIII not be great enough to cause slime
or mould, but just enough to keep such
plants moist enough to grow beautifully
The pan under the refrigerator. il there
is one, should be OF goodly proportions,
and should be washed carefully and reg
ularly-not merely rinseo. The drain pipe
should also be cleaned with the long wire
pipe brush that comes especially for the
purpose. A refrigerator cannot be kept suf-
fciently clean without st. After washing
out a refrigerator wipe il till perfectly
dry. Not a drop of moisture should re-
main.
When 1t is filled care should be taken
that the ice is not dropped into the refrig
orator. as is the frequent habit Of rough Ice
men. It should be gently placed in 1t. a
suburban housekeeper recently had new
and excellent refrigerator ruined in this
way piece of Ice Weighing twenty or
fifty pounds flung or dropped in the ice
compartment every day for a summer viii
ruin the best refrigerator ever made. Even
if only a crack in the lining forms damp
ness Will penetrate to the woodwork mould
or rot will follow. and the place will not
be safe from disease germs.
4 refrigerator should be we'll packed with
ice After IL has once become chilled 1t is
much easier to keep II so. A 10-cent piece
of ice every other day is much more eco
nomical than scent piece every day. as
one big solid piece Of ice will last longer
than two pieces half its size A 1O-cent
block Will also make a refrigerator just
twice as cold as a scent block. and this
cold will last longer. The strainer should
be constantly kept over the water outlet
inside the refrigerator to prevent the es-
cape OF cold through the waste pipe. 1t is
well to form the nabit of taking out of and
putting in to the refrigerator all that has
TO come out or go IN at any one time, so
that the door will not be opened oftener
than is absolutely necessary. A spring on
the door is a good thing.
some housewives wrap the ice III Soiiio-
thing before IL is put in the refrigerator.
but this prevents the ice from chilling the
refrigerator. and is therefore an extrava-
gance. II one wants. however, to keep a
niece OF ice a long time, as often happens
in remote districts where Ice is difficult TO
obtain. II is we'll to wrap it carefully in
papers In this case an icebox, not a re-
friserator should be used. and the box
"a
It is a good plan TO have a rack hanging
near the refrigerator TO hold the ice pick,
the ice litter and the scraper, or other
tools used around the chest Do not forget
to hang the icenan's record. with a well
sharpened pencil near by. so that he can
easilv put down the amount purchased.
Then there will be no forgetting of items
and no euesswork and no unnecessary de-
pendence on the bills of unscrupulous ice
men. Some wise housekeepers keep weights
beside the refrigerator so that every piece
can be weighed before their eyes The item
in cash sometimes saved by this means is
worth reckoning.
Never put warm foods into a refrigerator
for the sake of cooling them off They not
only waste ice. but cause moisture. Chem
icals and ell foods that have an odor should
also be excluded Sometimes II is essen
fial that foods with an odor be placed
where there is ice. II they must go in, put
them, well covered in a compartment by
themselves Fish may be kept for a while
In a refrigerator without imparting its
odor 10 other foods. If it is wrapped care
fully with waxed paper. Yolks. of eggs
should be covered SO as TO prevent drying.
Butter and milk. they absorb odors.
should be kept from other foods, in COM
partment by themselves. Butter especially
should be completely covered Vegetables
should be carefully washed and freed from
half dead leaves Or anything that might
possibly taint the atmosphere.