The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18
Solving the
Dust Problem

The dust problem is not always am
easy one to solve Many careful
housekeepers spend at least n fourth
of their time during the working day
fighting dust; going about with soft
cloth slightly danpened. wiping off
the tops of tables. stands or any pol
ished surface of the furniture. and even
then complain that 1t is impossible to :
keep tho house busted. h
Many times we have heard this pitt
eous wall: That table was busted
thoroughly this morning, and 1t looks
| now as If Il had never seen a dust
cloth. Look! 1 can write my name on
| it's top. It's almost impossible to keep
the dust off things. no matter how
hard I work. -
| 1t is true. Dust Will collect in SUR
prisingly short time, In spite OF COM
slant attention. In summer. with win
dows and doors open. 1t blows In from
the street in clouds, covering every
| thing with grimy coat. When winter
comes and the doors are closed, 1t filters
| in every crack and crevice when the
wind blows.
| II 1t were not for dust. the wear and
| tear on household goods would be les
sened almost one-half: 1t is the grind
| ing In of dust particles that gives a
| dingy look to everything, and the Wig
orous brushing out of these same
| grains that wears away the surface OF
upholstered furniture. curtains, car
| pets etc.
During the winter months. when 1t
| is necessary to have heat in the house.
| you Will notice certain amount of
black. greasy dust covering your fur
niture. This comes from the furnace
fire, IL the hot-air method is used In
heating. and even when steam or hot
| water heat is used more or less of
It rises from the basement, in spite OF
the utmost care.
When the coal bins are being filled
and when ashes are removed are times
when the whole house is treated with a
thick coating OF destroying dust IL the
lhousekeeper does not take especial
pains to prevent 1t.
With a hot-air register in every
room. with pipes connecting directly
with the furnace. hence to the cellar,
clouds of black dust belch forth from
this opening when tho coal man dumps
the fuel into the cellar. This can be
prevented. of course. There are al
| ways ways to overcome such difficult
ties If one has the patience to study
the problem.
very simple and effective way to
keep such dust from passing the reg
listers is to have u piece of cheese
cloth cut about four inches wider than
|
en- this. and after closing the regis
ter tack tho dampened cloth over the
opening. using thumbtacks, so as not
to mark the wall around the regis
ter.
After the coal is in and the dust
has had time to settle. take off the
cloth and look ut the immense amount
OF black dust that has been spared your
belongings.
When ashes are being taken up. do
Ia hi,
trouble to take every day, hang a large
damp sponge in front of the register.
This serves double purpose; it not.
only catches all the dust, but also abb
serbs poisonous gases rising from fresh
coal on the fire.
When steam or hot water is used
for heating purposes. the radiators will
nearly always be found under the win
dows. In this case, housekeepers are
annoyed by the quantities of dust that
collect on their lace curtains or win
dow drapories.
Steam rising from the radiator damp
ems the curtains. and, naturally, par
ticles of dust collect thereon.
A clever woman once overcame this
difficulty by having a flat board the
exact length and width OF the top OF
the radiator painted Gin this case it
was gilded) like the radiator. and on
the under side she pasted sheets OF
sandpaper. This board was then laid
nat upon the radiator, sandpaper side
down. This served to catch nearly all
the dust in that part of the room. be-
sides absorbing the steam and keeping
1t from rotting the lace curtains hang
ing near II.
The board was not unsightly, but
, served as q resting place for books and
newspapers that would not be affected
! by the heat.
| Place shallow bowl OF water on
such board and notice the difference
in the atmosphere of your room. Water
makes the air soft and moist. pro-
venting furniture from cracking as 1t
often does when dry heat is used.