Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-07-23

Correspondence on topics Of interest 70 the hd1ee
. solicited. Addtess: Edieor H0nAAk y
Ways 20 Save Ice.
(By Nay Belle Brooks.)
The refrigerator II perhaps the most
abused object In the entire house, and It'll
has surprised many Of us to learn that
our scrupulously sanitary habit Of Bcald-
ing It out every few days has been the
chief crime against 1t. A lot OF refriger-
alton 10 lost BY this oleanly practice. for
1t takes moro Toe to rechill and Il con.
tributes nothing to sanitation that could
not be procured BY other methods.
keep your refrigerator clean BY pre-
ventive measures rather than curative"
is the modern experts advice. Let no
food touch the lining, and II anything ID
spilled, wipe IL up Immediately before
It has the chance to mold. Once week,
wipe it out with q solution Of one tea.
spoonful of formaldehyde to one pint OF
cold water and It will be rendered thor
oughly antiseptic without any loss OF
cold air. Then swab the drain.pipe with
q gun wipe, or cloth wrapped on the
end of long wire and dipped In the
same solution. Ammonia and cold
water may also be used In the same
manner. Keep al doors closed except
the one where the cleaning is being done.
It is . mistaken idea to open all the
doors under the impression OF giving the
box good airing. It doesn't require
such wasteful measures, which frequent
~ admit dust and germ-laden cir into
chambers that should be % vacuum.like
as possible. This il true only of q box
properly cared for, of course, and kept
perfectly chilled ut all times, under
which conditions bacteria have no chance
to develop. If your chest has been
neglected and allowed to become warm
and food has spoiled In 1t, even then the
wiping out with the fofmaldehyde solu.
ton will be sufficient to deodorize az
we'll as disinfect.
Insist upon the icemsn rinsing of the
Ice before 1t 10 put into the refrigerator
and much clogging Of the pipe will be
saved. Another good plan is to keep
borax on the bottom of the Ice chamber
as it is washed down by the melting ice,
1t cleans the pipe.
A lump of charcoal should be kept on
the shelves to insure freedom from
odors, although some refrigerators have
such perfect circulation that they are
guaranteed to be odorless, even wher
strong. smelling foods are placed along
with more delicate ones. Even 80, 1t II
best to be discriminating about the
position of certain foods. Set milk
butter or eggs and such perishable foods
directly under the ice chamber, which ID
always the coolest part; put foods least
likely to spoil on the extreme top shelf
Foodstuffs, with the exception of lettuce
or salad green's, perhaps, should not bt
put In the Ice chamber, as 1t 10 the warm
est part of the refrigerator.
The smaller the piece of Ice that goes
into the chest, the sooner will 1t melt, &c
IL goes without saying that the larger
the block that you can put into 1t, th'
longer will your refrigerator 60 without
being refllled. Better than chipping the
ice to make 1t at, which Invariably
leaves several small sections that vii
melt away almost as soon as they ART
put in, is the application of heated
knife blade or similar object to th'
obstreperous corners. Paradoxica
though it may seem, one way to save ic'
ia to buy more ice. Never allow th'
supply to run low, for It will take jus
that much more ice to restore the los
temp since 1t melts about one
third of its capacity daily. Nothing
warm should ever be put into the refrig
orator, not only because 1t wastes ice Il
do 30 but because it introduces moisture
into the food compartment that Is oftel
conducive to mustiness.
Another way to save Ice Is to wrap Il
In paper or blanket, but 1t is also
good way to waste food The refriger
ator requires all the chilliness to b.
obtained by the amount of Ice 1t will
hold, 80 1t is not an economy to be al
ways recommended. The better plan Il
to keep your box as cold as possible ant
employ every precaution to conserve tn
cold air instead Of the Ice itself. On
way to do this is to be watchful abou
the opening of the doors. Do not opel
them unnecessarily or stand with then
lopeu while you plan your days meals
Investigate its contents rapidly, jottinl
them down If the memory be untrust
worthy, then close the doors to do you
thinking. Children are great offender
in this respect. have observed that II
homes where they are allowed freedom
of the kitchen the Ice bill is higher thai
In homes where this condition does no
lexist. Children are not always careful
to see that the doors are fully closed, ant
go columns of cold air rush out.
| The location of the refrigerator ha
much to do with economy of Ice. W.
used to be told that the rear porch o
the entry, even the cellar, any place bu
the hot kitchen, was the ideal place TO
1t to stand. But this theory has BEEF
lexploded by modern Investigators, ant
besides, there Is some saving grace du
the housewife az we'll as the ice! Domes
tic scientists have seen to 1t that as few
lsteps Is possible be taken between worl
table and refrigerator. Outside hea
ldoes not materially affect q well.mad
box With it's interlinings and packing
Ia draft Is not the best location either
but tight little closet has been foun'
the most economical place of all for tn
refrigerator.
| son the principle of evaporation,
|ssys the Department of Agriculture, sal
ice.box can be made which requires n
ice and In which temperature Of B
degrees can be obtained" Following
are directions they have given for on
of medium size. All the dimension
may be changed, of course, to flt specia
needs.
| Make . wooden frame three and hal
feet high, with the other dimension
twelve by fifteen inches. 1t 10 desirable
although not necessary, that this fran,
be covered with screening. Put tw,
movable shelves in the frame twelve &
fifteen inches apart. Make covering o
white Canton flannel, burlsp or heav,
duck to at the frame. Have the smootl
side out and button the covering on th'
frame with buggy or automobile curtain
hooks and eyes; arrange 80 that th'
door may be opened without unfastenini
the hooks. This can easily be done b!
putting one row of hooks and eyes or
the edge of the door near the latch ant
another row just opposite the opening
Let the hem on each side extend ont fal
enough to cover the crack ct the edge o.
the door, 80 ss to keep out tho warn
Il o;~ nnnlal u