ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 15, 9 April 1892, Page 384

ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE.

WHEN SWEEPING A ROOM. P re P arat ’ on a room for sweeping and the r- Al arrangement of the furniture after the room h* 3 cleaned, are by far the greater part of the work. The first step is to dust all the ornaments and place them on a firm table in another room. Next, dust all the plain furniture, using a soft cloth, and removing the lighter pieces from the room. Now l>eat and brush all the stuffed articles, using a brush to clean the tufting and creases. When everything movable has been taken from the room, and all the large pieces covered, dust the pictures with a feather duster or cloth ; then cover the pictures. Brush the ceiling and walls with a long feather duster, or a soft cloth fastened on a broom. Brush all dust from the tops of the doors and windows. Have the windows open all the while. If there be portieres and window draperies that can be easily taken down, pnt them on the clothes-line and shake them well. Take up all the rugs, and, if you have grass in the yard, lay them upon it, right side down, and beat well with a switch or rattan : then shake. If you have no place where yon can spread them, hang them on the line and beat them well. Have a good broom, not too heavy, for the carpets. Sweep in one direction only, taking short strokes. Take up the dirt with a dustpan and corn broom. When the dust settles, go over the carpet once more, having first freed yonr broom of all lint, threads, etc. When the dust has again settled, dnst the room with a soft cloth.

Put three quarts of warm water and three tablespoonfuls of household ammonia in a pail. Wring a clean piece of old flannel out of this, and wipe every part of the carpet, wringing the cloth as it becomes soiled. Now wash the windows, and wipe off any marks there may be on the paint. Remove the coverings from the pictures and furniture, being careful not to scatter the dust. Bring back the rugs and hangings, and arrange them. Finally, put the furniture and ornaments in place. Many people cover the bed, but not the bedstead. It is really quite as important that the wood work should be covered as it is that the pillows and bed are, for if dirt lodges in the grooves and carvings, it is a difficult task to remove it. COVERINGS FOR FURNITURE. IF one have proper covers for the pictures and heavy pieces of furniture in the room, a great amount of trouble can be saved on the sweeping day. Buy cheap print cloth for the furniture. Have three breadths in the cover, and have it three yards and a half long. It should be hemmed, and the work can be done quickly on a sewing machine. I find six cloths a convenient number, although we do not always need so many. Get eheap, unbleached cotton, and cut it into lengths suitable for covering pictures, heavy ornaments, clocks, etc. These need not be hemmed. Always remove any covering gently ; then take them out of doors to be shaken. Fold them and pnt them away. They will last a long time, and pay for themselves in a year, because they save so much extra dusting, and the moving of heavy articles. HOW TO DESTROY MOTHS AND WORMS. FROM all quarters there come inquiries about destroying moths and worms in carpets, rugs, furnitureand clothing. If the piece of furniture or the rug be very valuable, the quickest and surest way is to send it to any place where

they clean with steam heat or naphtha ; but one can do a great deal at home if one will only be thorough. For the stuffed furniture use naphtha freely. Put the article on the verandah and pour a gallon of naphtha into it, being sure that every part is saturated. After a day or two repeat the process, and I think you will find that both worms and eggs are destroyed. Still, it will be necessary to keep a close watch ; for it is more difficult to destroy the eggs than the worms, and they may be hatched out after days, or even weeks, have passed. I know that if the naphtha be used again at this time the trouble will be at an end. Furs and woollen garments should be well beaten and then saturated with naphtha. There is no danger in this generous use of the fluid out of doors : but in the house great care must be exercised. Windows should be opened, and there should be no light or fire in the room for several days if naphtha has been used in large quantities. When rngs or carpets are attacked, have two hot irons ready. Wet with hot water the parts that are affected. Place several thicknesses of wet cloth over this, and apply the hot irons, which should stand there for at least ten minutes, that the steam may penetrate every part. When all is done, pour on naphtha ; al«o, pour it about the edges of the carpet. Remember that wiping with naphtha has no effect ; it must be a generous bath. Bear in mind, also, that the danger from the fluid conies from the gas, and that the windows are to be opened, and no tire or light allowed in the room during the work, or for a few hours after it is done. METHODS OF REMOVING STAINS. REQUESTS have been received for the publication of a receipt that will remove fruit stains from linen or cambric. One of the simplest methods is to place the stained part over a bowl and continue pouring boiling water tbiough until the stain disappears. If this be done soon after the article is stained, there will be no trouble in most cases. The water must be boiling hot. Oxalic acid will remove fruit stains. As it is useful for many purposes, it is well to keep a bottle of it in some safe place. Put three ounces of the crystals in a bottle with half a pint of water. Mark the bottle plainly. When stains are to be removed have a large pail of water and a bottle of household ammonia at hand. Wet the stained parts with the acid and then rub. When the stains have disappeared, put the article in the water, wash thoroughly in seveial waters, and then wet the parts with the ammonia, that all trace of the acid may be removed. Finally, rinse again.