A manual of home-making

For convenience m well as efficient work in housekeeping, a schedule of regular daily, weekly^ monthly, and yearly proc- esses should be made out. Time eau then be well planned, and a routioc estal>lished that simpUfies the machinery of houi?e- keeping. CELLAR To keep the cellar in a sanitary condition, as much sunlight as possible should be admitted. The windows should l>e made as large as possifjle and be on opjKJsiie sides to insure eross- ventilation. If the house is banked for the winter, dry clean material should be used and the windows sliould not l>e covered. If the ct^llar floor is of concrete and is proof against dampness, it can be washed. The cellar walls should be whitewashed once or twice a year. Whitewash is a disinfectant. If the cellar walla admit moisture, it is recommended to wash them with a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid (I part acid and 5 parts water), and then apply a plaster of oil-mixed mortar. A cellar containing a heatin|2j plant should be di%^ided into compartments. By constructing; one of these compartments with an insulating wall of hollow tile, a cool room for vegetables may l>e secured. It is sometimes l>est to construct an outside cellar for such storage (page 584). 121 1 122 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING KITCHEN Sink. A sink without mnniiig waier is unjustifiable for the busy housewife. A drain coonection with a trap and a sanitary dis- persal outside for wastes* should lie provided. Tlie l>est kind of sink and the proper height for placing it are discussed on page 108. After each dishwashing, the sink should be washed with hot soapy water, and the sink-trap tioshed with a generous supply of hot water. This trap must l>o cleaned occasionally wit li kero- sene. At least one gallon of hot \vater should l)e poured down and while the pipe is still warm, one-half cup of kerosene poured in. This should stand for at least five minutes and then tfie trap may be flushed with a second gallon of hot water. A solu- tion of washing-soda should not be used since it tends to form a hard soap with the grease and to stop up the pipe. Kerosene forms no soap, but simply an emulsion. The sink should l)e kept so far as possible for purposes con nected only with the preparation of food and the cleaning of dishes. Walls and woodwork. Painted walls and woodwork are most easily cleaneil. They may be wiped with a broom covered with a soft cloth for fre- quent cleaning. A long-handled brush is better than a broom. Occasionally they ma^^ be scrubljed with a soft brush, warm water and lx)rax, and rinsed before being dried. Floors, Floor finishes best adapted for the kitchen are discussed on page 117. A mop-wringer is a great convenience in the work of mopping the kitchen floor. Dishwaj^hing. Since t he aim of dishwosliing is to clean the dishes and to kill the bacteria that may l3(; present by the iLse of soapsuds and scalding water* special care sitoutd be taken in case of ton- silitisi colds, and other infectious diseases. Unless the dishes i 1 I CARE OF THE HOUSE of the patient are lx>iled, the germs may infect the whole family. ' Kikhen towels and cupH, The roller towel for family use as well as the common drink- ing-cup must be discarded, if the health of the family is to be safeguarded. Kitchen dresses.