AUTUMN RENOVATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7399, 29 March 1911, Page 11

AUTUMN RENOVATIONS

Tfi© children, are all back at school, the summer holidays are a thing of tlxo past, and with energy. and strength renewed by a sojourn in. other people's homes, the housekeeper returns joyiuiiy ito tho contemplation of 1 her own, . and sets about making preparation© for tho winter and Christmas which will bo with us once again almost before one realises it.

Everyone knows full well ' that an autumn clean is as necessary ajs on© in the spring, although perhaps wo proceed about it in a less drastic fashion; nevertheless, it is wise to see'that each.room iu its turn gets a thorough, turn out, and is treated to fresh. draperies ; and generally smartened up. > If you have ; neglected to -have' the chimneys swept in the spring, have them attended to at once, otherwise when the time comes for fires you areMiablo ‘ to have an unpleasant period of smokiness and falling,, soot, to ’ say nothing of the probability of a fire in the chimney. Take down your sunblinds and store them away till next year with the folding chairs and other garden furniture; get-out tho winter,curtains and draperies, and see that they arc in good order for their period of service, and then decide what is to be done with those which - have done duty during the summer months. A'

Cushion covers and similar; -items which have become faded and shabbymay be cut up into dusters, and* rubbers, those that can bo used again must be cleaned and stored away till the spring. Outer curtains, of casement* cloth and silk must be replaced by j heavier fabrics, like Bolton sheeting and velveteen. You will probably need several, hew cushion.covers, and let ink advise you to decide in favour of:plain colours, satin and velveteen being the best for' hard: wear. If your furniture bo covered with a fanciful cretonne, .or. chintz, these plain cushions ave - far more effective, but if plain casement cloth bo selected for the furniture, then your cushions may.be as elaborate as you v please, and will account for themselves exceedingly well by force of contrast?

"With winter in. view you must arrange the rooms so that the occupants may obtain the maximum of warmth and cosmees, and to this end you would do well,to purchase one or more fancy screens, which, assist very materially in the formation of cosy corners, as well as being preventives of .draughts. I do not think wo make half enough use of these items of furniture, and whotheaythey bo of handsome brocade or the more inexpensive Japanese variety, their appearance in- a room cannot fail to on nance the appoo/rance, while they ore specially useful in breaking up the uncompromising straightness of four square walls.

The , nest step is. to overhaul the blanket box, and ns every good, house* wife will have seen to it that during the summer months every blanket in tho house /has paid a visit to the laundry, she will now remove all that 'are in use upon the beds, dispatch them to b© duly cleaned, and supply a clean set to every bed. •

Eiderdown'quilts, which during the hot, weather have- served as cushions or been reposing upon the top dholf of the linen cupboard, must now bo produced and placed in then* respective rooms, to bo ready for use;when required. Every bed should be fumidhed with ou<s of these very desirable coverlets, as they are light yet warm, and far better than additional blankets.

Tho wise housewife, too, will see that her cellar is wcU stocked with coal -and coke, and that a good supply of -wood has been duly chopped and stored for use. Candles and soap ' should also b© bought in largo quantities, and laid by on the shelves of Hie storeroom to harden for future use, since this' is a decided economy. •••' Next the stock of household ■ plants should bo overhauled, those which look gickly ,and shabby being relegated to the dustbin, or handed over to the gardener to nurse bock to health and strength. Those that require repotting should I>e attended to. and all the jardinieres bo filled with fresh plants, Finally, the electric lights and gas fires must bo examined, and nil the globes which havo become discoloured . be replaced by now ones. Fresh gavS burners may possibly be needed; while the services of one of tho inspectors from, the local gas company should be requisitioned to put all the fires and cookers in order for the coming winter.—“ Homo Notes."