The Weekly Cleaning. — If convenient, and the day is suit-
able, remove the mattresses to a sunny porch, and leave them
while the room is being swept. If the room contains rugs
and any unwashable draperies, remove them to some out-
door place where they can be properly beaten and cleaned.
Brush the floor of the closet, and wipe with a wet cloth,
drying thoroughly. Wash the toilet articles with soap and
water, and place them on the floor of the closet. Remove
the cover from the washstand. Put it into the wash, or, if
it is not soiled, shake it thoroughly by the open window, and
put it into the closet. Dust all articles on the dressing-table,
and any small ornaments, and put them away in a drawer.
Brush the dust from the pictures, the furniture, and the
THE BEDKOOM 277
woodwork. Then brusli tlie floor. Allow the dust to
settle, and, in the meantime, clean the looking-glass and
the windows. Next dust the room thoroughly with a soft
cloth. Wipe the floor with a damp cloth, and replace the
furniture. It is well occasionally to wipe the ceiling and
wall with a cloth tied over a broom, or with a long-handled
brush made for the purpose. If the rooin is carpeted, the
method of cleaning is much the same, but in this case there
is so much more dust that light f urnitnre should be removed
from the room and heavy furniture covered with cloths.
The carpet should be wiped the last thing with weak
ammonia water.
Exercise. — The methods of cleaning described in this
lesson can be illustrated in the model bedroom. In addi-
tion to the furniture of the room, there should be provided
a large floor-brush, a ceiling-brush, a whisk broom, a pail,
soap, a.nd a plentiful supply of soft rags and dusting cloths.
Lesson VI
The Care of the Sick
Need of Healthful Conditions in the Sick-room. — Especial
care should be taken to have the conditions of the sick-room
healthful. Here the invalid spends, not merely one-third
of his time, but all of it. On account of his weakness, he
is unable to resist harmful influences. The amount of
waste material thrown off from the body is generally much
increased, as is shown by the wasting of the body. What
we have learned in regard to the care of bedrooms in
general we may apply to the care of a sick-room, keeping
in mind always the need of extra precautions in ventilating,
cleaning, and in other ways preventing the accumulation of
harmful substances.
278 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
Ventilation. — In order that tlie air of the room may be
kept fresh, make a screen for the window, having a frame
like that of an ordinary wire screen. Over the frame tack
a piece of liannel. This screen, placed in an open Avindow,
admits fresh air, but exclndes dampness. At night, never
tnrn the light low, for the gas or oil is likely to escape
unbnrned, tluis pollnting the air. In order that the patient
ma}'' not be disturbed by the bright light, have a small paper
screen to hang between him and the light, or have a large
screen to shut off. the light wholly from the bed. With
these precautions, the air can be kept reasonably good for
several hours. The room must, however, have a thorough
airing at least once a day.
Page 134
Presented as published in 1900. 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
The Weekly Cleaning. — If convenient, and the day is suitable, remove the mattresses to a sunny porch, and leave them while the room is being swept. If the room contains rugs and any unwashable draperies, remove them to some outdoor place where they can be properly beaten and cleaned. Brush the floor of the closet, and wipe with a wet cloth, drying thoroughly. Wash the toilet articles with soap and water, and place them on the floor of the closet. Remove the cover from the washstand. Put it into the wash, or, if it is not soiled, shake it thoroughly by the open window, and put it into the closet. Dust all articles on the dressing-table, and any small ornaments, and put them away in a drawer. Brush the dust from the pictures, the furniture, and the
woodwork. Then brush the floor. Allow the dust to settle, and, in the meantime, clean the looking-glass and the windows. Next dust the room thoroughly with a soft cloth. Wipe the floor with a damp cloth, and replace the furniture. It is well occasionally to wipe the ceiling and wall with a cloth tied over a broom, or with a long-handled brush made for the purpose. If the rooin is carpeted, the method of cleaning is much the same, but in this case there is so much more dust that light furniture should be removed from the room and heavy furniture covered with cloths. The carpet should be wiped the last thing with weak ammonia water.
Exercise. — The methods of cleaning described in this lesson can be illustrated in the model bedroom. In addition to the furniture of the room, there should be provided a large floor-brush, a ceiling-brush, a whisk broom, a pail, soap, a.nd a plentiful supply of soft rags and dusting cloths.
Lesson VI
The Care of the Sick
Need of Healthful Conditions in the Sick-room. — Especial care should be taken to have the conditions of the sick-room healthful. Here the invalid spends, not merely one-third of his time, but all of it. On account of his weakness, he is unable to resist harmful influences. The amount of waste material thrown off from the body is generally much increased, as is shown by the wasting of the body. What we have learned in regard to the care of bedrooms in general we may apply to the care of a sick-room, keeping in mind always the need of extra precautions in ventilating, cleaning, and in other ways preventing the accumulation of harmful substances.
Ventilation. — In order that tlie air of the room may be kept fresh, make a screen for the window, having a frame like that of an ordinary wire screen. Over the frame tack a piece of liannel. This screen, placed in an open Avindow, admits fresh air, but exclndes dampness. At night, never tnrn the light low, for the gas or oil is likely to escape unbnrned, tluis pollnting the air. In order that the patient ma}'' not be disturbed by the bright light, have a small paper screen to hang between him and the light, or have a large screen to shut off. the light wholly from the bed. With these precautions, the air can be kept reasonably good for several hours. The room must, however, have a thorough airing at least once a day.