Part 25 (2/2)

Conclude by scrubbing tables and sink with cloth, brush, soap and sapolio as needed. Put the sc.r.a.pings in the garbage pail and pour hot water and soda down the pipe to remove the last vestige of grease. Hang up the s.h.i.+ning dish-pans, after was.h.i.+ng out the towels and dish-cloth in soap and water, if they require it.

A can of Babbitt's Potash of Lye may take the place of the was.h.i.+ng-soda.

=Bed-Making= (_Two sheets_, _blanket_, _comforter_, _cover_)

Put the lower sheet on with the right side up. Tuck it in neatly at the corners much as one would fold in the corners when wrapping up a box in paper. Place the upper sheet upon this with the right side down. This brings the two right sides together. Let the broad hem in each case be at the head of the bed. That of the upper sheet should just reach the head of the mattress.

Place the blanket with its upper end about six inches from the head of the bed. Then comes the comforter, placed in the same way. Fold the sheet down from the top just where the blanket ends. Tuck all in neatly at the sides and the foot. Now put the spread smoothly over all. It may be tucked in or may hang down as desired. Place the pillows with the closed ends of the cases together.

If an extra coverlet is to be placed at the foot of the bed, fold it in thirds so that the sleeper may reach down and draw it up over himself without rising to the floor.

To put on a bolster-case easily, turn it wrong side out and then roll it up over the bolster.

Train children to air beds every morning by shaking up bed-clothing and extending it over footboard and chair.

=Was.h.i.+ng= (_Toy tub or tin basin_, _toy washboard_, _basin for boiler_, _soap_, _bit of blueing tied in bag_, _strong cord for line_)

Put dolls' clothes or a few dustcloths or handkerchiefs in tub of warm water after soaping well. Let soak awhile, then rub out on the little washboard or between the hands, put into the boiler with cold water and just bring to a boil. Rinse in warm water or wash vigorously in warm water if necessary; then rinse in warm and then in cold water; put the blueing in a basin of cold water till the water is slightly tinged; remove the blueing bag and rinse the clothes in the water. (The blueing is to counteract the tendency of white goods to grow yellow with time.)

Hang up to dry in the air and suns.h.i.+ne.

Tell the children that the clothes must always be sorted, white body clothes being in one cla.s.s, bed-linen in another, table linen in another; woolens must be washed by themselves with care to keep the water of moderate temperature and the _rinsing_ water of the same degree of heat as the _was.h.i.+ng_ water. Flannels must be dried as rapidly as possible. Colored garments must be washed by themselves.

=Ironing= (_Two irons_, _holders_, _ironing blanket and sheet_, _iron-stand_, _cake of beeswax or candle_)

Before ironing the clothes must be sprinkled lightly with cold water, smoothed out and rolled up tightly for half an hour. Meanwhile pin the blanket to the ironing board and cover smoothly with the sheet. The iron must not be so hot as to scorch the clothes. Try it on a piece of paper. If it seems dirty or rough, rub it on the beeswax to make it clean and smooth. (In place of wax a candle will serve the purpose if wrapped around with a piece of clean cotton cloth.) If the garment seems too wet, put a piece of white cloth over it and iron till somewhat dry.

Then the iron may be placed directly upon the garment.

Starch is prepared by wetting and dissolving it in cold water and then pouring upon this boiling water and boiling until clear and smooth. The young child will not need to starch anything, however.

=Sweeping= (_Broom_, _whisk-broom_, _hair-broom_, _sheet_, _sweeping-cap_)

Let the little worker don sweeping-cap and ap.r.o.n, and then proceed to dust carefully small articles and books, place them on the bed and cover with an old sheet. Put furniture which is movable in the hall after dusting. Open the window. Then sweep the rugs on both sides and place outside. Pin up the curtains. Then dampen a newspaper and tear into small pieces; throw these on the floor to absorb the dust. Wet tea-leaves may be used for the same purpose.

Sweep, holding the broom rather closely to the floor and taking short strokes, raising as little dust as possible. Then leave the room for awhile, for the dust to settle.

=Dusting= (_Dusters of cheesecloth_, _clean pieces of old silk_, _chamois-skin_)

On returning to the room after sweeping, wipe off the baseboard, then the furniture, always working from the top down. To reach high corners where cobwebs may lurk, pin on the brush of the broom a cap of cheesecloth and sweep along the edges of the ceiling. For corners under heavy furniture, a small whisk brush or soft hair brush may be needed.

Rub off mirrors with a damp cloth, drying and polis.h.i.+ng with chamois-skin or crumpled newspaper. Highly polished furniture may be dusted with soft silk or chamois-skin.

Even small members of the family may be given a share in this work.

Little boys and girls can be shown how to dust chairs and furniture within reach of the little arms and hands. It may take more time at first on the mother's part than if she did the work herself; but in the end she is more than repaid. The little child need not be required to do much, but let that little be done thoroughly, if only the legs and rounds of one chair.

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