If one is deprived of exercise in the open air and has
much housework to do, what is very beneficial ? To have
the windows where one is working, open several hours,
even in cold weather, putting on an extra garment for
warmth.
How many small children be given fresh air in stormy
weather when they cannot be taken out? Put on their
wraps, and bonnets, and open the windows, try to avoid
a direct draft, and let them play in the cool fresh air.
Why does one take cold readily in going from a very
warm room where there are many people? There is an
excess of moisture from the breath and perspiration of
the crowd. The air being so saturated with moisture it
cannot take away the perspiration from our bodies, the
clothing becomes moist, the skin sensitive, and going into
the cold, dryer air, it quickly takes up this moisture from
body and clothing, and this evaporation takes away so
much heat from the body that it sometimes causes a chill.
BED-MAKING.
What should be done before making a bed? Hang up
all the clothing, and close the closet door, also the bed-
room door.
Why is this necessary? Bed-making raises more dust
than any other kind of housework except sweeping. The
door should remain closed awhile until the dust has set-
tled, or it will find its way into the other rooms.
How often should the mattress be turned ? About every
other day or three times a week.
What should be put over the mattress? A regular
padded mattress cover or a clean blanket.
How should the first sheet be put on? Wide hem at
18 Efficiency in Home Making
top, and right side up. Smooth out evenly, and tuck in
firmly all around.
How should second sheet be put on? Wide hem at
top, and wrong side up. It should be up high enough
to fold over top of blankets.
Is it necessary to tuck each of the covers in separately?
No ; spread each on smoothly, turn over the top and tuck
in before putting on spread. Put spread on, smoothing
it out after getting it exactly in the middle; if it is an
iron or brass bed, do not tuck in.
How will the pillows look best? If after shaking and
beating a bit, to get fresh air in them, they are smoothed
out flat and stood carefully in place, they will •support the
shams better, and make a neater looking bed.
EFFICIENCY SWEEPING AND DUSTING.
Is a vacuum cleaner better than a broom? Very much
better, for when thoroughly used, it removes the dust
imbedded in the carpet, and no dust is raised in the room ;
it is all drawn into the cleaner.
Will a carpet sweeper clean a carpet thoroughly ? No ;
it removes the surface dirt, keeping most of it, but not
all, in the sweeper.
If a room must be swept with a broom how ought it
to be done ? First open windows to blow the dust out ;
it is well to lower one from top ; shake the curtains and
hangings free of dust, and pin back close together. Dust
the furniture; take light pieces out of room, and cover
over heavy ones. Dampen a broom, shake the water off
carefully, and then sweep with short strokes, not throw-
ing the broom and dust up into the air. Rinse the broom
several times, always shaking thoroughly. The dust that
is stirred up flies about the room, settling on walls and
furniture, and the room is no cleaner for having had it
stirred up.
Page 7
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
If one is deprived of exercise in the open air and has much housework to do, what is very beneficial ? To have the windows where one is working, open several hours, even in cold weather, putting on an extra garment for warmth.
How can small children be given fresh air in stormy weather when they cannot be taken out? Put on their wraps, and bonnets, and open the windows, try to avoid a direct draft, and let them play in the cool fresh air.
Why does one take cold readily in going from a very warm room where there are many people? There is an excess of moisture from the breath and perspiration of the crowd. The air being so saturated with moisture it cannot take away the perspiration from our bodies, the clothing becomes moist, the skin sensitive, and going into the cold, dryer air, it quickly takes up this moisture from body and clothing, and this evaporation takes away so much heat from the body that it sometimes causes a chill.
BED-MAKING.
What should be done before making a bed? Hang up all the clothing, and close the closet door, also the bedroom door.
Why is this necessary? Bed-making raises more dust than any other kind of housework except sweeping. The door should remain closed awhile until the dust has settled, or it will find its way into the other rooms.
How often should the mattress be turned ? About every other day or three times a week.
What should be put over the mattress? A regular padded mattress cover or a clean blanket.
How should the first sheet be put on? Wide hem at
18 Efficiency in Home Making
top, and right side up. Smooth out evenly, and tuck in firmly all around.
How should second sheet be put on? Wide hem at top, and wrong side up. It should be up high enough to fold over top of blankets.
Is it necessary to tuck each of the covers in separately? No ; spread each on smoothly, turn over the top and tuck in before putting on spread. Put spread on, smoothing it out after getting it exactly in the middle; if it is an iron or brass bed, do not tuck in.
How will the pillows look best? If after shaking and beating a bit, to get fresh air in them, they are smoothed out flat and stood carefully in place, they will •support the shams better, and make a neater looking bed.
EFFICIENCY SWEEPING AND DUSTING.
Is a vacuum cleaner better than a broom? Very much better, for when thoroughly used, it removes the dust imbedded in the carpet, and no dust is raised in the room ; it is all drawn into the cleaner.
Will a carpet sweeper clean a carpet thoroughly ? No ; it removes the surface dirt, keeping most of it, but not all, in the sweeper.
If a room must be swept with a broom how ought it to be done ? First open windows to blow the dust out ; it is well to lower one from top ; shake the curtains and hangings free of dust, and pin back close together. Dust the furniture; take light pieces out of room, and cover over heavy ones. Dampen a broom, shake the water off carefully, and then sweep with short strokes, not throwing the broom and dust up into the air. Rinse the broom several times, always shaking thoroughly. The dust that is stirred up flies about the room, settling on walls and furniture, and the room is no cleaner for having had it stirred up.