Spring Cleaning Without Drudgery

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 6 (Supplement)

Spring Cleaning Without Drudgery

AN OLD RITE IN A MODERN GUISE

Spring cleaning in the well organised home can proceed so smoothly, with such efficiency and speed, that the seasonal devastation which used to furnish material for comic artists should be a thing of the past. The housekeeper who attacks the cleaning problem by modern methods need not end her day with aching muscles, ruined hands and strained nerves. Scrubbing with soap and water may now be efficiently done without dipping one's hands in the water. There is one type of mop which wrings itself by simply twisting an appliance in the handle. Another brush and bucket outfit has a perforated basket in the side of the bucket for squeezing out the surplus water. There are innumerable small tasks which are greatly simplified if the few inexpensive tools designed for them are provided. A stock of inexpensive brushes will save hours of time, and if selected intelligently will last so long as to be almost a permanent investment. If painted walls require washing, the entire surface should be gone over, as simply cleaning the soiled spots is certain to leave marks and streaks. A tablet of mild soap or a packet of soap flakes should be dissolved in a quart of boiling water. Add to this solution another quart of boiling water in which is dissolved 207.. glue. Add a little flour and some sal soda. When the solution jellies, use a large, soft sponge and apply it, working from the bottom tip. Then wipe down the wall with chamois, or if the surface is very dirty, wash off the solution with clean water and a clean sponge. Then dry with a chamois. The exposed woodwork next needs attention. Wood painted a light colour may be washed with mild soap and warm water and then rinsed, an operation made much easier by one of the new baskets divided into two compartments, one for soapy water and one for clear water. Use clean sponges for this. If part of your spring cleaning activi it.v includes anew inlaid lmoleum, much 1 later trouble will be saved by at once 1 applying a coat of wax to fill the pores I and seal the surface against water. II

you have inlaid linoleum floors which have not received this treatment, spring cleaning time is the time to decide t<: cleanse them well with a mild soap and afterwards give a protective coat ol wax. Any printed linoleum should be refinished with varnish or clear lacquer. Here are other useful hints. Caix chairs should be washed on a wind\ day and allowed to dry outside. The wind helps them to dry quickly. The> should, of course, be kept out of th< sun. Excellent results ,can be obtained i files are first washed and then rubbei with a cloth dipped in paraffin ant water. The smell of paraffin disappear! very quickly. If a faded carpet is rubbec with a cloth which has been dipped ii ammonia and water and wrung dry it will freshen it up immensely. The best way to net a . high polish or mahogany is to wash it first with i chamois damped with vinegar ant water. Then polish .it as usual. Get rit of dust easily and effectively by puttinj a little paraffin oil on your duster. To keep leather-covered furniture ii perfect condition and free from cracks polish it regularly with a cream madi from one part vinegar and two part of linseed oil, which must be bottle* and shaken until it is like cream. Thi preserves the leather and polishes it a the same time. Grease can be effectually remove from a carpet by using ammonia. Pu one tablespoonful into a pint of warn water, add two tablespoonsful of o: gall, and sponge the mark very cart fully. Rinse off with pure alcohol, aiv wipe dry with a piece of woollen cloth. Jirass fittings and mounts on furni ture are often difficult to clean becaus it is desired to avoid soiling the woo surrounding them. It is helpful to ti a little salt in a thick, soft cloth and t moisten this slightly with vinegar an then to rub the brass with it. The metf should then be polished with a dry flai nel dipped in fine wood ash. Stains on ceilings made by smoke r from a gas jet can be removed b covering with a thick paste of stare and water with a clean flannel. Whe ' I dry brush off lightly.