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Classic
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page 338
there should be plenty of towels, especially of those coarse, rough ones which
make a morning bath such a luxury. A broad oil-cloth in front of the washstand
is also a protection to the carpet in bathing, and is needed when there is no
bath-room up stairs.
HOUSE-CLEANING.
When mother earth summons the stirring winds to help clear away the dead leaves
and winter litter for the coming grass and flowers, every house-keeper has a
feeling of sympathy, and begins to talk of house-cleaning. The first bright
sunshine of spring reveals unsuspected dust and cobwebs, and to her imagination
even the scrubbing-brushes and brooms seem anxious to begin the campaign. In
northern latitudes it is best, however, not to begin too soon. Do not trust
entirely to appearances, for spring is almost certain to break her promises of
pleasant weather, and give us a good many days when it will be any thing but
pleasant to sit shivering in a fireless room, while the children become
unmanageable and husband growls. So for the sake of health, peace, and comfort
do not remove the stoves before the middle of May. When you begin, do not upset
all the house at once, driving your husband to distraction, and the children to
the neighbors. By cleaning one or two rooms at a time, and using a little
womanly tact, the whole house may be renovated with little inconvenience. Before
the trouble begins see that all repairs needed about the house, from cellar to
garret, are attended to. Have all tools on hand and in good order, and provide
lime for white-washing, carpet-tacks, good soap, sawdust, carbolic acid, and
spirits of ammonia. Fold carpets by lifting one side, carrying it over to the
other and laying it down carefully, thus preventing the straw and dust from the
under side from soiling the upper. Carry it out, and hang on a strong line over
the grass, and beat thoroughly the wrong side first, with a carpet-whip such as
are sold at all house-furnishing stores, or a broom or stick, taking care not to
use any thing rough that will catch into the carpet. Wash out all grease spots
with a little gall soap and clean water, after the dust is entirely beaten out.
Take one or two pails of sawdust, wet thoroughly and scatter well over the
floor; a very little dust will arise when you sweep it off, and it will not be
necessary to clean the floor before washing wood-work and windows. If you can
not get sawdust, use moist earth instead. Begin at the attic and work down to
the cellar; clothes, carpeting, and "trumpery" stowed away, must be thoroughly
dusted and aired in sunshine and wind. Brush down all cobwebs with a
long-handled broom, and sweep down the walls carefully. Wash and polish the
windows, and if the walls are hard-finish, they may be washed off lightly with
soap-suds, and wiped dry. Wash wood-work and floors with hot soap-suds, and
rinse with strong, hot brine, or hot water with a strong mixture of cayenne
pepper in it, to drive out mice, rats, and other vermin. When the floor is dry,
blow cayenne
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