The Washington times., 1918-10-19

M 1ITH all the other things
!" women are now supposed
w to know comes to us q
message from the plumb
ers which says: Women know thy
plumbing" Once upon q time we
could call in the handy man and
have shut of the water somewhere
in rhe cellar. Once we could have
him open up the sink trap and clean
out the grease that collected. But,
alas, even he has been drafted and
has no more time for US.
Perhaps there is no more effective
avenue OF disease than household
plumbing. In districts where the
building law is lax with regard
to plumbing. diseases. often laid to
other causes, are OF frequent oc-
currence. But very often good
plumbing. through the housewives
ignorance or neglect, becomes q
menace to health.
Every woman should acquaint
herself with the shut on" valves.
II you cannot locate these yourself,
have some one who knows show
them to you right now. One indeed
makes a pitiful spectacle standing
before a burst pipe with water
flowing on the expensive rug un-
able to locate the "shut-on."
Builders usually give the plumb
ing end to a sub-contractor. And
unless the owner is particularly
well versed in plumbing and ever
vigilant during its installation, the
result is usually q poor job, offer
ing opportunities for endless repairs
in future.
When a house has been unoccu-
pied for some time, IL should be
thoroughly aired before being re-
occupied. In good plumbing there
is a bend usually in the form OF
U in the waste pipe. This is known
as the trap" and the water 1t
contains is called q water seal"
The water seal prevents poisonous
sewer gases from passing through
the waste pipe and into the rooms.
But when a house has been unoccu-
pied for some time, the water in the
cess to any OF these poisonous gases.
For your own safety, see that
there is a trap and water seal on
the waste pipe OF your refrigera-
tor il 1t is connected with the main
waste pipe of your home. Other
wise these same gases may pass
from the sewer into the refrigera-
tor and cOntaminate the food con-
tanned therein
DO you know how to open the
sink trap IL II becomes plugged2
With a wrench, remove the screw
cap. which is usually on the under
side OF the trap. Have a pail at
hand to catch the flow. This will
often save one a plumbers bill
Grease cannot be dissolved in
plain water. when grease cools, II
hardens. Bear these facts in mind
so that when grease or greasy
water is poured into the sink, fol-
low IL by hot water in which bit
Of washing soda has been dissolved.
The soda makes a kind OF soft
soap OF the grease present, and
soft soap, as we all know, is So
luble in water. Should the trap
become plugged up. try pouring a
strong solution Of washing soda
uO"u Ile waste plpc stNtEdl TIMES
before incurring the expense OF a
plumbers services.
An unclean toilet bowl is not
only unsightly but may even be
a decided menace to health. Roll
several thicknesses OF old cloth
around a short broom handle. Tie
the cloth on tightly. Pour 10 cents
worth Of muriatic acid into the
bowl and let II stand five minutes.
Then scrub the bowl with the i'm
prOVised brush. The results Ers
excellent. Remember. OF course.
that muriatic acid is deadly
poison and il spilled will almost
eat q hole into ones flesh. Buy
only a small quantity and use It
all at once. Look over your
plumbing better, have a plum
ber go over it thoroughly before
winter sets in. And, incidentally,
find out about all the little things
that "he" used to attend to In the
plumbing lima,