Is it worth while to keep household accounts ? It is ; and with the Economy Expense book, it is not a difficult matter if attended to regularly. There are two columns at the left, one to enter the amounts received, the other what is paid out ; and a space beyond, to post the expendi- tures under the different heads, so one can easily tell if the account balances, and at the end of the month the amount spent under different groups. What help is this? It enables one to see how the in- come is being spent, and where it would be wise to cut out any needless or unduly large expenditure. What practice should one especially avoid? Going in debt ; it is demoralizing and leads one into expenditures she cannot afford. It does not matter so much what one's income is, as whether one lives within it, saving up a little for "a rainy day." Debt is like a millstone about one's neck, and has many times dragged a man down to suicide. One should gauge her expenditures by her in- come and not by the income of a neighbor, and heroically go without what cannot be afforded. 58 Efficiency in Home Making LAUNDRY V/ORK. What makes water hard? It is the compounds of lime or magnesia it has taken up from the soil. How may this sometimes be corrected? By boiling, if it is calcium carbonate (carbonate of lime) or by putting a little sal soda, borax or ammonia in. Can clothes be washed well in hard water? No; they cannot be washed well, and it takes very much more soap. Will soap act on the dirt as long as there is lime in the water? No; it will unite with the lime and form lime soap. How can this lime soap be removed from the tubs and boiler ? It is insoluble in water, but can be readily wiped off with a cloth dampened with coal oil. Is it advisable to soak clothes before washing? It helps to loosen the dirt. They should be put in cold or luke- warm water, and soap rubbed on the parts badly soiled, rolling them up to get the full benefit of the soap. Should the water be softened first? Yes; with a little washing soda solution. Should washing soda be put in the water after the clothes have been put in? Never! Always dissolve it thoroughly in the tub of water first ; about two ounces to a large tub of water. What should be done next ? Wring out the clothes ; then wash them clean in hot soap suds, and then scald. They are more sanitary if boiled about ten minutes, in- stead of having scalding water poured over them. What will help in whitening the clothes? If a table- spoonful of borax to each gallon of water is put in the boiler before putting them in to boil. Is there any other advantage in the borax? It acts as a disinfectant. Why do the clothes need to be thoroughly rinsed? Otherwise the dirty water will not be removed, and the soap will also make them look yellow. Should the clothes be thoroughly wrung between each change of water? Yes; or so much soiled water will be Efficiency in Home Making 59 left in them it will take several rinsings to remove it. Why do clothes that have been blued look whiter? A blue white always seems whiter to the eye than a yellow white.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Is it worth while to keep household accounts ? It is ; and with the Economy Expense book, it is not a difficult matter if attended to regularly. There are two columns at the left, one to enter the amounts received, the other what is paid out ; and a space beyond, to post the expenditures under the different heads, so one can easily tell if the account balances, and at the end of the month the amount spent under different groups. What help is this? It enables one to see how the income is being spent, and where it would be wise to cut out any needless or unduly large expenditure. What practice should one especially avoid? Going in debt ; it is demoralizing and leads one into expenditures she cannot afford. It does not matter so much what one's income is, as whether one lives within it, saving up a little for "a rainy day." Debt is like a millstone about one's neck, and has many times dragged a man down to suicide. One should gauge her expenditures by her income and not by the income of a neighbor, and heroically go without what cannot be afforded. 58 Efficiency in Home Making LAUNDRY WORK. What makes water hard? It is the compounds of lime or magnesia it has taken up from the soil. How may this sometimes be corrected? By boiling, if it is calcium carbonate (carbonate of lime) or by putting a little sal soda, borax or ammonia in. Can clothes be washed well in hard water? No; they cannot be washed well, and it takes very much more soap. Will soap act on the dirt as long as there is lime in the water? No; it will unite with the lime and form lime soap. How can this lime soap be removed from the tubs and boiler ? It is insoluble in water, but can be readily wiped off with a cloth dampened with coal oil. Is it advisable to soak clothes before washing? It helps to loosen the dirt. They should be put in cold or lukewarm water, and soap rubbed on the parts badly soiled, rolling them up to get the full benefit of the soap. Should the water be softened first? Yes; with a little washing soda solution. Should washing soda be put in the water after the clothes have been put in? Never! Always dissolve it thoroughly in the tub of water first ; about two ounces to a large tub of water. What should be done next ? Wring out the clothes ; then wash them clean in hot soap suds, and then scald. They are more sanitary if boiled about ten minutes, instead of having scalding water poured over them. What will help in whitening the clothes? If a tablespoonful of borax to each gallon of water is put in the boiler before putting them in to boil. Is there any other advantage in the borax? It acts as a disinfectant. Why do the clothes need to be thoroughly rinsed? Otherwise the dirty water will not be removed, and the soap will also make them look yellow. Should the clothes be thoroughly wrung between each change of water? Yes; or so much soiled water will be Efficiency in Home Making 59 left in them it will take several rinsings to remove it. Why do clothes that have been blued look whiter? A blue white always seems whiter to the eye than a yellow white.

Efficiency in home-making and first-aid to good cooking