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146. In
spring and autumn more extended cleaning operations go on, and the time for
these periodical cleanings is usually May and October. All white-washing,
painting, and general repairs should be done in the spring, and during the
cleaning carpets should be taken up, well beaten, mended, and turned so as
to bring the worn pieces out of sight. Care must be taken to match the design
of the carpet. All ornaments should be carefully washed, cleaned, or relacquered.
Curtain-poles taken down, washed with vinegar, and rubbed bright with
furniture-polish, page lxiii. Looking-glasses cleaned, see page lxiv. Chairs
and sofas recovered or invested with loose chintz covers. Paper rubbed down
with the clean crumb of stale quartern loaves. Ornaments placed in fire-stoves,
and white curtains hung up in place of the damask or chintz, which should be
well shaken, folded in large folds, with a couple of handfuls of dry bran laid
between each fold, and a piece of camphor placed in the drawer or box in which
they are kept.
147. All
woolen antimacassars should be replaced by lace or cotton couvrettes.
148. When
carpets are re-laid, the colors are greatly revived by adding a small
quantity of ox-gall to warm water and washing them over with the mixture:
plenty of air must be admitted after this, as the smell is very strong.
149. Locks
should now be taken off, cleaned, and oiled, bell-wires adjusted, and
bell-handles tightened, if necessary.
150. The
chimney of each room should be swept, and care taken to see that the brush
is sent up through the top of the chimney.
151. In
olden days, all fires save the kitchen were left off on the twenty-fifth of
March, and the house-cleaning began as soon after as possible. Now, in these
degenerate days, it is not until May that many among us began to turn the house
out of windows. The first fine week after May 1st is a good rule, but a fine
hot April will sometimes tempt us to begin before the sun gains much power.
At the end of March all the blankets that can be spared should be washed and
hung out in the brisk wind to dry, then thoroughly aired by a good fire for
twelve hours, and stored in a dry place.
152. The
first thing to be done when beginning a "spring clean," whether in March,
April, or May, is to ascertain what pieces of furniture want renovating, and
if any require to be taken from home, they should be sent off at once. Then the
sweep must be consulted, and ordered to come on the most convenient days. If
the family are away, all the rooms can be swept in one day, but if not, the
arrangements must be altered by circumstances. To "begin with the top floor
and go down" is not a bad rule. Before the sweeps arrival all carpets must
come up, and go away or out to be beaten ; all ornaments must be removed, pictures
taken down, and looking-glasses covered. All furniture should be covered with
sheets or with dusting-sheets.
153. After
the sweep's necessary but grimy labours, all traces of his presence must be got
rid of, and the room swept towards the fireplace, and all dirt taken up,
and the stove cleaned. The walls, if paneled, are washed down ; if papered,
either rubbed down with stale bread or cleaned by passing a clean cloth down
them, taking care to remove all cobwebs from corners. In cleaning with bread
act as follows:--
154. First
blow off the dust with the bellows. Divide a stale loaf of white bread into
eight pieces. Take the crust into your hand, and, beginning at the top of
the paper, wipe it downwards in the lightest matter with the crumb ;
do not cross or go upwards ; wipe about half a yard at a stroke, and when all
the upper part is done, go around again, beginning a little above where you
left off. It must be done with great lightness, or the dirt will adhere to the
paper, but if properly done the paper looks like new. Then the floor is scrubbed
with sand and hot water--no soap, no soda--and allowed to dry.
The furniture is thoroughly cleansed while the floor is drying.
155. Those
articles which are French-polished should be washed with weak vinegar and water,
and the following polish used to them:-- 3 oz. of common beeswax, 1 oz. of white
wax, 1 oz. of curd soap, 1 pint of turpentine, 1 pint of boiled soft
water ; mix these, adding the water when cold, shake well, and keep for 48 hours.
Apply with the flannel, and polish first with a duster, and then with a silk
handkerchief.
156. The
furniture should be replaced in position, or changed to suit the altered room,
which looks differently with white curtains and a dressed-up fireplace. The
fireplace may be concealed by a card-table, with a handsome cover of cloth
embroidered with some pretty design. Firegrate adornments are to be avoided by
chilly persons, whose health demands that every wet evening, every cold evening,
shall see a cheerful fire in the salon.
157. Very
pretty modes there are, however, of ornamenting grates and fireplaces. We all
know the eternal crinoline, fringed out and adorned with ivy and real or
artificial flowers. The blank space filled by looking-glass, with fender of
ferns and pot plants in front, is nice but expensive ; but the trellis
basket-work screen and fender is within the reach of all. The price, to
begin with, is moderate, and the trellis is soon covered with creepers,
nasturtium, jasmine, clematis. The front or fender may be filled with green
moss and cut flowers, or by pots containing growing plants.
158. WINTER CURTAINS
must be put away carefully, after hanging out in the air for three or
four days if in fine weather, bringing them in at night. On the day you intend
to pack them away, beat them lightly with a thin stick, and fold them carefully
in as large folds as your store-place will allow, scatter a handful of bran
(bone-dry) between each fold, and if placed in a large drawer or closet, add a
big lump of camphor.
159. LINED CHINTZ CURTAINS
should be treated in a similar way, but do not require the
camphor. The bran cleans both chintz and damask curtains in a wonderful matter,
and there is but one thing to remember, that you must carefully shake out the
bran when you draw them out again. The nicely washed and mended muslin curtains
should hang in their due place, the pictures be replaced in position. And now we
turn to the blinds, a vexed subject in many households. If Venetian blinds are
in question, they want simply washing, perhaps repainting, the tapes renovating,
not a long business in willing hands ; but if the blinds be white holland, on
rollers, it is sad work. First, to get the blinds from the rollers, then to wash
them and iron them straight, then to replace them, then to find that no one in
the house can pull them up straight. Roller-blinds that go up with a gentle
spring, and come down with a gentle click-click are best ; but if they are not
quite clean and new, they should be taken down and made into nice glass-cloths,
for which they are well adapted, and new ones placed upon the rollers.
160. The OUTSIDE of a HOUSE,
both back and front, is an index to the character of its
mistress. Every room should have a window neatly dressed with curtains and blinds
clean, neat, and hanging straight.
161. The STEPS
should rival the snow in whiteness, and be fresh whitened daily.
162. The BEDROOMS
require a few words. The bedding should be taken out of doors, if possible,
and well beaten and brushed, the bedstead taken to pieces, whether of wood
or of iron, and well washed with hot water and soap. When quite dry the
bedding should be replaced, and the summer bed-curtains be arranged with
the bed-furniture. An opportunity should be taken of sending all japanned
goods out to be repaired, as cans, baths, hot-water cans, &c. All the glass
and extra china should be washed or dusted in the china closet, the list
gone over, and all missing articles accounted for and replaced as soon
as possible.
163. A
few items of housewifery may be jotted down here. Have the pianos tuned as
soon as the house-cleaning is over ; oil all the door locks, keys, and bolts
once every month. Oil all door and window hinges. Have every trifling repair
mended at once, and paid for at once ; this saves much trouble, and is
considerably cheaper than having carpenter's and glazing jobs booked.
164. Turn
out every box, cupboard, and corner in the house-cleaning. Separate all
stores required for or likely to be useful in needlework, and keep these
in tiny rolls or parcels in a drawer known as the work-drawer. Wash out and
fill up inkstands once a week. Few writers like much ink in the inkstand ;
half an inch deep is quite enough for ordinary writing for a week, and more
than enough to spill if there is an accident with the inkstand.
165. Warm
skirts and cloth jackets should be hung out in the air, and well beaten with a
light came, and stored with plenty of camphor in presses or boxes. Muslin
dresses and petticoats should take the place of the heavier garments, and
notable housewives prepare in May their summer costumes for the children
and for themselves. the little ones look best and are happiest in holland
frocks and blouses, or knickerbocker suits of brown holland. Boys of five
and six will require four suits a week of these. Little girls are more
reasonable, and can be kept in nice order with three suits weekly. We are,
of course, speaking for children who are allowed to play about a garden and
enjoy themselves. White piqué, nicely braided, makes good best summer clothing
for both boys and girls. Straw hats for both, but while girls want pretty
little wreaths of flowers, a plain ribbon does for Master Jack ; but that
ribbon should match the little bow tied beneath his clean linen collar.
166. Muslin,
holland, or print costumes are nice for morning wear, for ladies' costumes
should always be made in accordance with the time they are to be worn. Many
ladies in the country do not change their dress until late in the day ; the
morning costume should be made in dressy style ; but if it is discarded before
the children's early dinner, it should be as plain as possible, although
always neat and pretty.
167. All
cloth, merino, and stuff dresses which are worn daily should be hung out for
one day in each week in the open air, beaten lightly with a cane, and well
brushed, folded, and put away. This cleansing and rest keeps the dress fresh
and pleasant, and makes it look better and wear longer than if this little
care is neglected.
168. A
fresh ribbon, a new collar, some variety in one's ornament, makes a refreshing
change to the eyes of our family. Variety should be studied for the sake of
pleasing and cheering those who work for us and with us.
169. In
the evening various amusements should be allowed in a family--music, cards,
reading, games, such as chess, draughts, jacquet, backgammon, &c. A good
romp with the little ones is a healthy amusement for everyone who will join in,
and most beneficial to the little darlings, who go merrily to "Bedfordshire".
170. If
guests are expected at any time, rooms should be well aired, and everything
placed in readiness ; chimneys aired by good fires, so as to have no smoke
to dishearten the arriving guests, or to blacken the dainty toilet arrangements.
171. Mutton
and beef should hang for ten days if the weather be cold, and for a week
under any conditions.
172. In
order to allure guests to our table we must give them a good dinner ; nay,
more, we must have and enjoy the reputation of a good cook, a good cellar,
a carefully-appointed table, and quiet, clever waiting. The damask tablecloths
must be spotless, the napkins folded in the last mode, flowers arranged on
the table with or without the dessert. The glasses should be brilliant, the
silver well polished, and plenty of light, either gas, lamp, or, best of all,
wax lights. The waiting should be performed noiselessly. Unless men-servants
are thoroughly well drilled, it is better to dispense with their services ;
at any rate, do not employ anyone from the stable to assist the footman.
The aroma arising from the ordinary duties of coachman, groom, or stable-boy
is too plainly perceptibly in a dining-room, and is very trying to delicate
persons. A neat, nice-looking housemaid is far pleasanter than such
"grooms in waiting."
173. That
the dinner may be perfect, we must study what is seasonable as well as what
is nice. Good housewives will replace all glass and china in fitting order
the day following any little party. Fruit should be removed from
delicately-painted dessert services as soon as the convives
assemble in the drawing-room. If there is not time to wash them up at once
(by far the best plan), the first opportunity should be taken of doing so,
and before going to bed this should be done.
174. In
extinguishing wax candles in chandeliers, candelabra, and piano candle-sticks,
care should be taken to avoid disturbing the wax ; if blown out, the hand
should be placed behind the light to guard the "spirt" of wax from the
carpet, &c., but the neatest plan is to have an extinguisher mounted on a
long stick, and the lights extinguished one by one with this.
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