Without system, one may work almost to the point
of exhaustion, and yet accomplish almost nothing, and
then wonder, like the man jumping in and out of a
bucket all day, "why a body don't get on far when
he's kept agoing all day." Keeping things in order
saves a great deal of time. A place for everything
and everything in its place should be the rule in every
home. Let shelves, drawers, cupboards, and closets
each have its own appointed contents, which, when
used, shall be returned with careful order. It takes
no more time nor trouble to put things away at first
in their right place than to lay them aside in some
wrong place ; while it does take time which soon accu-
mulates into wasted hours and days to hunt for mislaid
articles, and "straighten up" disordered receptacles.
The too common practise of taking what appears the
easiest course at the moment, letting things go just as
they happen, till there is a general clearing-up time, is
in the end a waste of both time and strength. Such
spasmodic renovations avail but little. Orderly, sys-
tematic work is the great time-saver in housekeeping,
as in every other vocation in life.
A written program, of which the following is sug-
gestive, of the order in which the regular daily work is
156 EVERT-DAY WORK.
to be done, kept where it will serve as a constant re-
minder, will greatly aid in the establishment of habits
of method in one's work: —
DAILY MORNING PROGRAM OF KITCHEN
WORK.
1. Make the fire ; fill the tea-kettle and reservoirs.
Polish the stove, when needed.
2. Dust the kitchen, which should have been left
clean and in good order the night before. Wash the
hands preparatory to breakfast getting, as it is always
essential to have the hands and finger nails clean before
handling foods and cooking utensils.
3. Get breakfast.
4. Make any preparations for dinner which may re.
quire early attention,
5. Wash dishes, including dish-towels ; clean sinks,
hoppers, and garbage receptacles, if any.
6. Extras. Under this division may be arranged dif-
ferent duties for regular days, as, for example, one day
each week may be devoted to extra cleanuig of cup-
boards, reservoirs, ovens, etc. ; two other days to wash-
ing and cleaning the refrigerator, extra scouring of
utensils and faucets, cleaning of lights, woodwork,
walls, windows, and cellar, all of which require more
or less of the housekeeper's attention, though not
always demanding daily care.
7. Put the kitchen to rights. This should be done
after every meal before leaving the kitchen. At the
close of the day's work, everything should be left in
perfect order.
DAILY PBOGBAM. 157
It is desirable to have the housework so planned
that work which must be done regularly each week, as
baking, washing, and ironing, shall have its own ap-
pointed day arranged as best suits the needs and con-
venience of the household. There is always a best way
of performing even the simplest of household details;
seek out this most advantageous method, and save time
by employing it.
Page 98
Presented as published in 1897. 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
Without system, one may work almost to the point of exhaustion, and yet accomplish almost nothing, and then wonder, like the man jumping in and out of a bucket all day, "why a body don't get on far when he's kept agoing all day." Keeping things in order saves a great deal of time. A place for everything and everything in its place should be the rule in every home. Let shelves, drawers, cupboards, and closets each have its own appointed contents, which, when used, shall be returned with careful order. It takes no more time nor trouble to put things away at first in their right place than to lay them aside in some wrong place ; while it does take time which soon accumulates into wasted hours and days to hunt for mislaid articles, and "straighten up" disordered receptacles.
The too common practise of taking what appears the easiest course at the moment, letting things go just as they happen, till there is a general clearing-up time, is in the end a waste of both time and strength. Such spasmodic renovations avail but little. Orderly, systematic work is the great time-saver in housekeeping, as in every other vocation in life.
A written program, of which the following is suggestive, of the order in which the regular daily work is
to be done, kept where it will serve as a constant reminder, will greatly aid in the establishment of habits of method in one's work: —
DAILY MORNING PROGRAM OF KITCHEN WORK.
1. Make the fire ; fill the tea-kettle and reservoirs. Polish the stove, when needed.
2. Dust the kitchen, which should have been left clean and in good order the night before. Wash the hands preparatory to breakfast getting, as it is always essential to have the hands and finger nails clean before handling foods and cooking utensils.
3. Get breakfast.
4. Make any preparations for dinner which may re. quire early attention,
5. Wash dishes, including dish-towels ; clean sinks, hoppers, and garbage receptacles, if any.
6. Extras. Under this division may be arranged different duties for regular days, as, for example, one day each week may be devoted to extra cleanuig of cupboards, reservoirs, ovens, etc. ; two other days to washing and cleaning the refrigerator, extra scouring of utensils and faucets, cleaning of lights, woodwork, walls, windows, and cellar, all of which require more or less of the housekeeper's attention, though not always demanding daily care.
7. Put the kitchen to rights. This should be done after every meal before leaving the kitchen. At the close of the day's work, everything should be left in perfect order.
DAILY PROGRAM. 157
It is desirable to have the housework so planned that work which must be done regularly each week, as baking, washing, and ironing, shall have its own appointed day arranged as best suits the needs and convenience of the household. There is always a best way of performing even the simplest of household details; seek out this most advantageous method, and save time by employing it.