The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-10-30
CLEANING UP
AFTER INFLUENZA
Detailed Directions Endorsed by the
State Board of Health

Burlington, Oct. 30-The following
article written by Mrs. Elmer Bailey
Of Burlington with the advice and
assistance of Miss Cora Curtis, dis
trict nurse of Burlington, is endors-
ed by the State Board of Health and
recommended as the procedure to be
followed in houses where cases Of
influenza have occurred:
For the assistance of those who
have had cases of influenza in their
homes, and that the danger of pass
ing the disease on to others may be
avoided, the following directions are
issued:
Every house in which there has
been one Or more cases of this dis
ease should be disinfected by thor
ough cleaning which should leave no
crevice or corner untouched.
Soap, water, fresh air and sunshine
are the best possible disinfectants,
and should be freely used.
To clean the rooms: Remove as
much of the furniture as is possible
to the open air, take down all the
draperies and remove carpets and
rugs. If the walls are papered OF
kalsomined, wipe them down with
clean, dry cloths. If washable,
cleanse with soap and water. Wash
all woodwork with soap suds. Even
polished mahogany is not injured in
the least by careful washing with
lukewarm soap suds, provided care
is used in using a white soap, not too
alkaline in character and the wood
is at once dried and rubbed with a
soft cheese cloth. All floors should
be thoroughly washed and dried, and
the windows washed and polished.
Carpets and rugs should be hung
on Ines to be exposed to sun and all
for several hours and later we'll beat
en- and brushed in the open air, before
being relaid All draperies which are
not washable should receive similar
treatment. Lace OF muslin curtains
should be laundered. Upholstered
furniture should be beaten, brushed
and aired.
Electric vacuum cleaners, when
available, can be used to remove dust
in place Of beating but thorough air
ing should not be neglected.
Especial care should be given tc
the bedding and clothing used By
! the patient. Mattresses should be
placed out Of doors in the sun shine
for two consecutive days and shoulc
be well beaten and brushed. SoileC
and infected pillows are an ab~:c,oi
| nation and constant source O.
| danger. Therefore, the feather
should be emptied from the ticks
washed and ironed, and the feather
returned to them.
Elizabeth, cf Littleton, and Mrs. Liz
towels, handkerchiefs, everything O
the kind should be placed in a pill
low case or other receptacle and pu
into a wash boiler of cold water will
a cup of washing soda or soap pow
der sufficient to make a strong suds
This should be brought to the boil
ing point and boiled ten or ffteel
minutes. The clothes can then b
safely handled. They should b
rubbed in fresh suds, rinsed in sever
al waters, and dried in the open all
exposed to the sun, if possible.
All dishes and utensils used by tn
patient should be washed in boilin
suds and rinsed with boiling water
Spittoons should be disinfected wit
a carbolic or creolin solution. Toilet
should be we'll scrubbed and f1ushe
with carbolic or creolin solution.
Persons caring for the sick shoul
be dressed in washable clothing an
this should be changed frequently
The skin should be kept clean by FIRE
quent bathing. The hands should b
washed often, always before eating
and the hair should be kept clean b
shampooing.
Heavy Woolen clothing such a
coats and outside wraps, need not b
destroyed but should be CAREFUL
busted and hung in the open air an
sunshine for several hours.