SPRING CLEANING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23113, 11 August 1938, Page 4

SPRING CLEANING

RENOVATING THE HOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS WORKING TO A SCHEDULE BY SWEEP Most housewives rather dread Iho process known as "spring cleaning," but. if handled efficiently it need not ; present any difficulties. The following ; helpful hints should help to make it a lighter and much more pleasant task: — It is a good plan to give the children their lunches in order that you may have an uninterrupted day. But do not make the mistake of neglecting yourself in the process, as this is decidedly "false economy." Provide yourself with an egg flip during the morning and have a simple lunch consisting of cheese sandwiches and a glass of milk. These things do not take many moments to prepare, but they aro strengthening and sustaining and prevent that "tired feeling" at the end of the day. Also, relax completely for half an hour while eating lunch. Before you begin, give the whole matter a little forethought and form a definite plan in your mind as to tho best method of procedure. Tackle the entire process methodically, room by room, and see that all cleaning equipment is in order before you make a \ start. First, to clean a room, remove all small objects such as ornaments, pictures, etc., and put them aside to be dealt with later. The Oarpets Next, brush and clean any uphol- > stered furniture, and if possible put it out of doors to air. Then sweep tho carpet thoroughly with vacuum or sweeper, or sprinkle it with damp salt and sweep vigorously with a straw broom. If necessary, scrub with a good carpet soap, 'the following is an excellent recipe for tho latter: Shred 2oz. of common yellow soap; pour over it two pints of boiling water and stir until dissolved, then add three tablespoons cloudy ammonia and Joz. of washing soda. Lather with hot water and apply to the carpet with a brush, rubbing gently. Rinse with cold water, dry with a clean cloth, and put outside to air. , , , Now mop the flooring boards where the carpet has been with a good disinfectant, and dust walls, ceilings, picture rails, and other ledges. Next, deal with any painted woodwork. A quick and easv way to clean paint is to have two buckets of water; one cold, to which a tablespoon of ammonia has been added, and one hot, with a little ammonia and soap powder in it. VVitli a soft flannel wash tho paint with soapv water, rinse with the cold water, and ' dry with a wash-leather, wrung tightly. New Life for Furniture The following is an excellent method for bringing back new life to shabby furniture: —First rub vaseline well into the leather, paying particular attention to all worn parts. It will take plenty of rubbing. When quite soaked in and drv, rub thoroughly with the white of an egg. Bub until you got a good polish. Discoloured basket furniture can be cleaned and whitened by scrubbing with cold water to which a handful of common salt has been added. Rinso well with plentv of cold water and leave in a breeze, out of tho sun, until thoroughly dry. Bran water should bo used for all coloured furnishings and hangings. Tie some fresh bran in a piece of muslin, leaving sufficient room for it to swell, then boil in water until tho latter bc- > comes cloudy. Leave the bag in tho water until the latter is cool, then remove it. Brush or shako all dust from articles before washing them in the bran water. No soap is required, for the bran acts as a cleansing medium. Prepare a second tub of bran water for the first rinsing; then give a final rinse in clean water. If the article is largely composed of wool, have the washing and rinsing waters all of the same temperature- —just comfortably warm. Blinds Renewed Instead of recovering pantry shelves with paper or oilcloth, trv doing them over with white enarnjl. This will last indefinitely and the shelves can always be kept in perfect order with an occasional wipe over with a damp cloth. If you possess brown window blinds that have become shabby and faded they may be wonderfully restored in the following way:—Mix well together equal quantities of turpentine, kerosene, boiled oil and vinegar. Apply to blinds with a piece of flannel, and shako the bottle occasionally as you proceed.