Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-31
Fatigue From Kitchen Work
Relieved by Better System
Daily Duties Are Made Easy Through Improved
Methods of Doing Work and by Employ
ment of Latest Appliances.

Poor working conditions and badly
arranged kitchens are the cause of
much OF a ilomemeker's fatigue. The
degree of fatigue In doing kitchen work
is due to the way In which the work is
done rather than to the work itself.
For instance, sitting down to do kitchen
work when possible saves a great deal
of energy.
A housewife uses more energy when
she works on surfaces of uncomfort-
able height than when the equipment is
adjusted to suit her height. Many
women have tired backs and round
shoulders from working while standing
or sitting at tables that are too high or
too low. If a sink Is too low and can
not be changed, elevate the diShpan
onto pan or wire rack.
Special Furnishings.
Stove, sink, work table and other
large pieces of equipment should be
chosen with regard to the wall and
floor space they VIII occupy. They
should also be In proportion to the size
of the kitchen and to the work done In
it and In scale with each other.
Good artificial light Is just as much
needed as daylight at sink, stove, table
and all other work centers. The arti-
fetal lights should be arranged so as
to prevent glare ana so that house.
wife at any one Of the important CEN
tiers does not have to work in her own
shadow. Frosted bulbs or translucent
shades will help to diffuse the light and
cut of the glare.
A wheel tray saves many steps when
serving and clearing away meals. An
inexpensive wheel tray can be made
from store box and wheels from q dis
carded baby carriage or child's wagon.
A washstand or small table, II light
weight, equipped with wheels, also
makes good wheel tray.
Built-in equipment includes work
table, cupboards and ironing board. If
an ironing board Is built In 1t IS always
without putting cover over It and It is
out Of sight when not in use. Thirty.
five inches is the correct height Of an
ironing board for . woman Of average
height.
A small cupboard placed over the sink
is ready for storage space. ALI kitchen
tools used for washing dishes and pre-
pairing vegetables, such as soap, cleaner,
dish mop and vegetable brushes, may be
kept n 1t. Another cupboard placed
over the range may be used for salt,
that Is used at the stove. Do not have
shelves so high that they require
stretching to reach them. Do not have
them so high that you cannot see the
articles on them easily.
A kitchen may be made smaller by
grouping the kitchen equipment in one
part Of the kitchen. While this method
does not actually reduce the size Of the
kitchen, 1t accomplishes the same re-
suit by reducing the working area. This
method is the one that can be used In
- 80
Kitchens. Because kitchen Il large,
that does not mean that the equipment
must be scattered all over it. This
method is especially adaptable to kitchen
in which meals are served. The kitchen
equipment can be grouped at one end
and the other end of the room may
serve as dining area.
There are several good reasons why
q pantry is no longer considered q
necessary part Of good kitchen. First,
L usually requires taking too many steps.
Second. it is catch-all for things which
do not belong there. The pantry Is CIV
ing place to built-in cupboards and bins
which can be made to line the walls Of
the kitchen.
Soolal Center.
If meals are. TO be served In the
kitchen, corner or an adjoining aIcove
SnOulQ De reserved LOT the table ana
chairs. II possible, this should be near
the serving table and arranged to face
away from rather than toward the sink
and stove and to include window with
q pleasant view or an outdoor box filed
with Towering plants. II meals are
served in q corner of the kitchen, It is
important to have light that illumi-
mates this part only, then after other
lights are put out, the dining corner
seems to be shut OF from the rest Of
the kitchen.
In large kitchen space can usually
be found for a comfortable chair and
small table or shelf to hold mending
basket or books. Here the housewife can
take an occasional rest while keeping
an eye on food that Is cooking, or pick
up some mending or sewing, or revise
household accounts. It may also be
q convenient place for the children TO
study or play occasionally, and will be
appreciated by the neighbor who runs
in for few minutes for @ short chat. A
separate social corner often has the
added advantage that In order to make
room for it the other centeEs must be
grouped closer together, thus making Q
more efncient arrangement for working.
Always arrange the work place so that
the work can be done either sitting or
standing. Have q small rocker so that