Is it advisable to use electro silicon? It cleans the sil-
ver nicely, but is hard on it as it rubs off imperceptible
quantities ; long continued use will show, especially on
plated silver.
Is the old-fashioned whiting good for cleaning silver?
Most of the silver polishes for which we pay fancy prices
are made of it.
How can it be used? Sift through a fine cloth, unless
it is very fine already ; make a paste with ammonia or
alcohol, coat the silver over with it, and when dry, rub
off with tissue paper or soft cotton cloth, and polish with
chamois.
How can rust be removed from iron or steel, if not
very deep? Rub with coal oil.
CARE OF THE BATH ROOM.
What is the easiest way to remove the film of dirt from
sides of bath tub? Wash thoroughly with good naphtha
soap. Keep a piece handy, and insist where a tub is used
by more than one member of the family, each one must
wash it out as soon as the bath is finished. Infectious
diseases may be contracted from a tub used by another,
or from towels.
Efficiency in Home Making 23
How should the toilet seat be cared for? After all the
slop jars have been emptied, it should be thoroughly
flushed, and a curved toilet brush run all over it, and
inside the curved neck.
If the china part has become discolored through neglect,
what should be used to restore it? Muriatic acid will
remove discolorations, and also dissolve any sediment in
bottom of urinals. But it is a deadly poison, and must
not even be gotten on the hands or clothing, as it will
injure them. The plumbing must be very thoroughly
flushed after using, as it is otherwise hard on iron pipes.
Why should all the woodwork about the seat be kept
thoroughly varnished or coated with Japalac? Because
unprotected wood quickly absorbs water and odors also,
and becomes insanitary.
Should the same cloth be used to wash out the wash
basin, and the toilet seat? No; all excretions from the
body contain body poisons, and sometimes disease germs,
this is doubly true of that from the intestines and kidneys,
so brushes or cloths used for cleaning urinals or toilet
seats should be kept for that purpose only.
Are brushes to be preferred to cloths? Very much,
for they dry so much quicker, and damp cloths quickly
become insanitary.
What should be done with wet brushes? They should
be shaken and stood brush side down. If turned on the
back, water will soak into the wood and injure the
bristles.
How should the pipes in bathrooms and sinks be cared
for? They should be flushed once a week with plenty
of scalding water, and while hot, have a solution of wash-
ing soda one pint to three gallons of boiling water, poured
down them. About a quart to each pipe, and two to the
kitchen sink.
Are large rugs objectionable in a bathroom? They
are ; they absorb odors, and are liable to be soiled. There
should always be a bath mat hanging in the bathroom.
The wash bowl and standard top need washing every
morning.
24 Efficiency in Home Making
OUT-DOOR CLOSETS.
In the country and villages where there is no sewer
system, what precautions should be taken with the out-
door closets? A box of dry earth (not sand) should be
always kept in the toilet, and a small shovel. Excreta
should have a sprinkling of this dry earth over it always,
for it acts as a disinfectant, and prevents flies having
access to it.
Page 10
Presented as published in 1915. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Is it advisable to use electro silicon? It cleans the silver nicely, but is hard on it as it rubs off imperceptible quantities ; long continued use will show, especially on plated silver.
Is the old-fashioned whiting good for cleaning silver? Most of the silver polishes for which we pay fancy prices are made of it.
How can it be used? Sift through a fine cloth, unless it is very fine already ; make a paste with ammonia or alcohol, coat the silver over with it, and when dry, rub off with tissue paper or soft cotton cloth, and polish with chamois.
How can rust be removed from iron or steel, if not very deep? Rub with coal oil.
CARE OF THE BATH ROOM.
What is the easiest way to remove the film of dirt from sides of bath tub? Wash thoroughly with good naphtha soap. Keep a piece handy, and insist where a tub is used by more than one member of the family, each one must wash it out as soon as the bath is finished. Infectious diseases may be contracted from a tub used by another, or from towels.
Efficiency in Home Making 23
How should the toilet seat be cared for? After all the slop jars have been emptied, it should be thoroughly flushed, and a curved toilet brush run all over it, and inside the curved neck.
If the china part has become discolored through neglect, what should be used to restore it? Muriatic acid will remove discolorations, and also dissolve any sediment in bottom of urinals. But it is a deadly poison, and must not even be gotten on the hands or clothing, as it will injure them. The plumbing must be very thoroughly flushed after using, as it is otherwise hard on iron pipes.
Why should all the woodwork about the seat be kept thoroughly varnished or coated with Japalac? Because unprotected wood quickly absorbs water and odors also, and becomes insanitary.
Should the same cloth be used to wash out the wash basin, and the toilet seat? No; all excretions from the body contain body poisons, and sometimes disease germs, this is doubly true of that from the intestines and kidneys, so brushes or cloths used for cleaning urinals or toilet seats should be kept for that purpose only.
Are brushes to be preferred to cloths? Very much, for they dry so much quicker, and damp cloths quickly become insanitary.
What should be done with wet brushes? They should be shaken and stood brush side down. If turned on the back, water will soak into the wood and injure the bristles.
How should the pipes in bathrooms and sinks be cared for? They should be flushed once a week with plenty of scalding water, and while hot, have a solution of washing soda one pint to three gallons of boiling water, poured down them. About a quart to each pipe, and two to the kitchen sink.
Are large rugs objectionable in a bathroom? They are ; they absorb odors, and are liable to be soiled. There should always be a bath mat hanging in the bathroom. The wash bowl and standard top need washing every morning.
24 Efficiency in Home Making
OUT-DOOR CLOSETS.
In the country and villages where there is no sewer system, what precautions should be taken with the outdoor closets? A box of dry earth (not sand) should be always kept in the toilet, and a small shovel. Excreta should have a sprinkling of this dry earth over it always, for it acts as a disinfectant, and prevents flies having access to it.