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Classic
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page 339
pepper into every crack and crevice, using a small pair of bellows for the
purpose; and the room is ready for its customary furniture, unless the more
thorough renovation of kalsomining and painting is to follow the cleaning.
Before replacing, every article should be thoroughly cleaned, every button and
tuft of the upholstered goods receiving its share of attention from the
furniture-brush. Sofas and chairs should be turned down and whipped, then
carefully brushed, and all dust wiped off with a clean cloth slightly damped.
Wash wood-work and carving with a soft cloth dipped in warm soap-suds, wiping it
off quickly, and polishing with chamois-leather, to prevent the soap from
injuring the varnish. When it needs it, black walnut or mahogany furniture may
be washed quickly with a soft brush and soapy water, wiped dry, and then rubbed
with an oily cloth. To polish it, rub it with rotten-stone and sweet oil. Clean
off the oil, and polish with chamois-skin.
Sinks, drains, and all places that become sour or impure, should be cleansed
with carbolic acid and water. This is the best disinfectant known, and should be
kept in every house, and used frequently in warm weather. While house-cleaning,
brighten up old furniture by rubbing well with kerosene oil; should it be marred
or bruised use the "Magic Furniture Polish," page 342. Take bedsteads to pieces,
and saturate every crevice with strong brine; nothing is better to purify and
cleanse, or to destroy bedbugs. To clean mirrors, take clean warm rain-water,
and put in just enough spirits of ammonia to make it feel slippery. If very
dirty, rinse, if not, wipe dry, and you will be surprised at the effect. Do not
polish stoves until fall if you are going to put them away during the summer,
but to keep them or any iron utensils from rusting, rub over with kerosene. When
polishing, six or eight drops of turpentine added to blacking for one stove,
brightens it and makes it easier to polish. To remove mortar and paint from
windows, rub spots of mortar with hot, sharp vinegar; or if nearly fresh, cold
vinegar will loosen them. Rub the paint spots with camphene and sand. To clean
paint use whiting on a damp cloth. To remove spots from gray marble hearths rub
with linseed oil.
Fall house-cleaning deserves no less attention, except that white-washing and
painting can best be done in the mild days of spring, when the house may be
thrown open to wind and sunshine. The best time is in the constant weather of
October; and before beginning, all the dirty and heavy work for the winter, such
as getting in coal and wood, should be completed, and the cellar made clean and
sweet.
KALSOMINING.
If papering and painting, or kalsomining are to be done, do the last named
first. Wash ceiling that has been smoked by the kerosene lamp, with a strong
solution of soda.
Fill all cracks in the wall with a cement
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