A manual of home-making

Washable work dresses are the only kind suitable for wearing in a kitchen. They have been proved to be economical of both money and time. They may be made of various inexpen- sive and satisfactory materials (page 358). Short sleeves and turndown collars or no collars at all iidd to tlie comfort of the worker. The design should be the simplest possible, LlVlNG-ROOM AND DINING-ROOM The window shades of the living-room and the dining-room should l>e raised more than halfway to let in the sunshine, and the windows should be opened frequently to air out and to keep the temperature Ijelow 70^ F. I I SLEEPLVO-ROOMS The ideal sleeping-room is the outdoor porch with only cur- tains for protection. An indoor sleeping-room should have simple furnishings. Unnecessary draperies collect dust and _ exclude air and sunshine. The floor should be bare save for a ■ few small, easily cleancn] mgs. The wall paper should L>e of a soft restful color, either plain or with small inconspicuous figures. An iron bed is better than a wooden one because it can be more easily cleaned. A mattress is more healthful than a feather bed, because the body is not so enveloped as to liiiider the escape of waste matter from the skin* The bed covering should be warm but light. Several light-weight blankets or comforts are better than fewer heavy ones. BATHROOM Absolute cleanliness and abundant ventilation are essential in a sanitary bathroom. Kerosene applied with a special brush I I J 124 A MANUAL OP BOMB-MAKINO or cloth to the bathtub, Ixjwl, and tnilet and washed off with a (^ood soap *sohitioo will solve most of the difficyltie.s of cU^ning. All brushes or i^Ioths used in cleaning the bathroom should be thoroug^hly wa^shed in eleiin 8oai>-suds, rinsed in hot water, and dried in the sunlight each time after being used. Occasional flushing of the toilet with a strong solution of washing-soda L^ desirable. Faucets, door knobs, and all parts of the toilet ever touched by the hands, as well as the usually cleaned parts, should Ije washed occasionally with a solution of some good cUsinfectant^ such as creolin, lysol, or alcohol. SUGGESTIONS FOR SWEEPING AND DUSTING Dust should be avoided, since it irritates the throat and may carr>' germs. If jXKssible a vacuum sweeper should Ix^ usec1» If a broom is used it should be dampened, or bits of moist paper or some commercial substance for sweeping should be sprinkled over the floor. In sweeping, short strokes should be taken away from the person, Rugs which can be cleaned outdoors are generally preferable to carpets. Dustless mops and dustless dusters are sanitary' labor-savers. They can be made at home by flipping the mop or the duster in a solution of some vegetable oil, such as linseed or cottonseed oil, in gasoline or other solvent, about one tablespoon of oil to one pint of gasoline being used. There should Iw no fire in the room where the gasoline is used. The mop or duster should l>e hung outdoors until the gasoline has evaixjrated. The oil will be evenly distributed in this way. The duster may be washe<i once or twice l>efore it is necessary to redip it in the oil solution. REPAIR KIT A well-stocked repair kit should be a part of the equipment of every household. It should be placed in a convenient loca- tion and should contain: hammer, screwdriver, plane, phcrs, CAME OF THE HOUSE