The Washington times., 1922-10-23
.
BY APPLIANCES
6INH0UsEHOLD! /
Electrical Drudgery Savers Not
Miracle Workers, Warns
Teacher.

In speaking Of the up-to-date appli-
ances for household use, one of our
foremost home economics teachers
recently warned her classes: Don't
expect miracles"
Electrical drudgery savers will per-
form all manner of tasks with the
minimum Of labor; but these appli.
ances are not human. They must be
guided and cohtrolled and kept In
proper condition by an intelligent
operator The machines will do the
work. but the housewife must not
expect them also to think.
No machine, be II ever SO perfect,
win long perform Its work unless IL
receives proper care. The simpler
the machine, the less care 1t requires
that truth rs self-evident-but wan
ton or careless neglect Will ruin
eventually the simplest, or, II not
actually r1ining the machine, II Will
at least interiors with It's proper
operation. ffh
Every purchaser OF an electrical
appliance should ask two questions:
"How do l operate this machine!'
"How should care for it?"
Too many buyers--and too many
aalesmen-are content simply TO an.
swer the first question. The opera.
tion is glibly explained by the expert
demonstrators. the beauty and shiny
finish are admired and extolled. We
are obsessed with the idea that the
machine viii lbanish drudgery, give
US hours of freedom and pleasure.
and make housework a simple matter
of pushing button and then sitting
down In an easy chair while the elec.
fh.i<. SO NJ dnaq the work
This beautiful dream Is very close
TO the truth. The machine will do
the work, twill give as leisure, and
Il win Danish drudgery. Any house
wife of average good sense and
reasonable industry can keep her
house spick and span, do the wash
ing, ironing. sweeping, houseclean-
ing, dishwashing, cooking and all the
minutial of housework for a family
of four or five. in less than six hours
q day with the aid of electricity.
That statement is absolutely true and
has been demonstrated in thousands
of homes throughout this broad land.
But such an ideal result cannot be
obtained unless the electric appli-
ances are properly and intelligently
cared for. Note that we say "inteili-
gently cared for" To maintain
household appliances In proper work.
ing condition requires 30 per cent
intelligence and SO per cent care.
One must know what the machines
require in the way of care, and then
soc. to II that they receive this proper
care day by day.
For example, all motor-driven ap-
pliances require oil; it Is a very
simple matter. but neglect in oilirig
will soon result in trouble. Vacuum
} cleaners require that the dust bag
be Semptied regularly. Not much Of
a job. to be sure. but neglect means
that the bag will clog, the egress OF
the air will be impeded. the motor
win be affected and very soon the
cleaner begins to "act up" and cause
trouble. washing machines, ironers,
dishwashers, all require their mod!-
cum Of care. requiring little
thought and few moments of time.
Do not jump to the conclusion that
these electrical appliances are the
only things that require care. II you
drive a motor car you know that
attention must be given to the tires,
that the radiator must be kept filled
with water, that grease cups. gas
tank, oil supply and battery all must
be carefully watched. II you own a
sewing machine you know that the
bobbins must be wound and the bear
ings oiled. II you have a victrola
you know that fresh needles are con-
stantly required and that the ma.
chine must be wound up before 1t
viii play. The care Of whole outfit
Of electrical appliances is not so
exacting as the care of motor car,
and scarcely any single electric ap.
pliance requires any more care than
a victrola.