Foods and home making

Saucepan lids are needed near the stove ; a soap shaker, near the sink; an egg beater, near the work table. In deciding where to place kitchen utensils, think where the utensil will be used most. If possible, put the utensil in that place. It is often advisable to put up some hooks, shelves, or wall cupboards in order to keep utensils where they will be needed most. How large should a kitchen be? In colonial days, large kitchens were built. The kitchens of those days were used for cooking, baking, spinning, weaving, quilting, sewing, soap mak- ing, candle making, laundering, and many other kinds of work. The kitchens were used also as dining-living rooms. To-day, many of these things are not done in our homes. Spinning, weaving, and many other activities are done in fac- tories. The modern home has a laundry, a dining room, and a living room elsewhere. Such large kitchens are unnecessary and inefficient. For the average small family, a kitchen measuring 8 by n feet is a convenient size. If the family is large so that more than one person is usually working in the kitchen, a larger room may be needed. What should be used on kitchen walls and floors? Walls that may be washed are desirable in a kitchen. Painted walls are washable provided oil paint is used. Ordinary wall paper cannot be washed. There is, however, a kind of wall paper with a glazed surface that may be washed. Tiled walls are washable, but they cost more than most families can afford. A linoleum covering on the floor is easy to clean, easy to walk or stand on, and pleasing in appearance. There are two types 148 Modern Housewifery of linoleums — printed and inlaid. The first cost of printed lin- oleum is less than for the inlaid but it is not nearly so durable. The pattern being only printed on, the surface soon wears off. The coloring of inlaid linoleum extends down to the foundation fabric. After linoleum is laid, it is well to varnish the printed and to wax the inlaid. In case the floor of a kitchen is uncovered, it may be painted, varnished, or oiled. The two latter finishes are better for hard- wood floors. Small rubber mats placed in front of the sink or work table make standing less tiresome. A linoleum rug may be used in the center of the floor. The margin of the floor may be painted, varnished, or oiled. How can a kitchen be made attractive ? How many hours of the day does your mother spend in the kitchen? Does she usually spend as much time in the living room as in the kitchen? Since a home maker spends so much time in the kitchen, should it not be a pleasant place ? Figure 47. A Swinging Sash in a Door The necessary cupboards in a kitchen take up much wall space. A swinging sash built in a door saves the wall space that would be required by a window and at the same time gives light and venti- lation. The valance does not exclude much light, and makes the doorway more attractive. It is mounted on the same fixture as the shade. Kitchen Efficiency and Charm 149 A light kitchen is attractive. Every kitchen should have at least two windows. When possible, these should be placed on two sides of the room, so there can be good ventilation. It is sometimes advisable to have a window placed in the upper part of a door. If this window is fastened in the door with hinges and latch, it not only lets light into the kitchen, but aids in ventilating. (See Figure 47.)