It is well to have the woodwork in a kitchen oiled. A
wainscot is desirable. Have the walls painted a rather
light color. If one can afford it, the walls about the
range and sink should be tiled. At the outset tiles may
appear costly, but after experience one finds it is really
a saving to use them. They can easily be kept perfectly
clean, and will last as long as the house itself. English
or Dutch tiles should be used, and there is nothing more
appropriate than the blue and white. The price for fur-
nishing and setting such tiles is from seventy cents to a
dollar per square foot. Probably the time will come
when nobody will think of finishing a house without
them.
Do not be satisfied with a small sink. Have one of
good size, and of iron, with a sloping and grooved shelf
at one end, on which to drain dishes after washing them.
Let the sink rest on iron legs. The space under it should
not be enclosed, as every dark place is a source of temp-
tation to a slovenly domestic.
One caution in regard to the sink : have the strainer
screwed down firm. Anything that will not pass through
the strainer should not go into the pipes. The hinged or
loose strainer gives but little protection, as the temp-
tation to lift it and let sediment pass through is very
great. With an immovable strainer and the use, once
a fortnight, of the hot solution of soda described in the
chapter on " Care of Utensils," there will be no trouble
with pipes, unless it be caused by wear or freezing.
After using the hot soda, flush the pipes with cold
water. This plan has been followed in the care of the
plumbing of a large house for many years, with the
most satisfactory results. Put hooks under the sink, for
dish-cloths, dish-pans, etc. Unless there be tiles above,
AN IDEAL KITCHEN.
13
ROLLER FOR TOWEL
ABOVE QROOVEO
DRAINING BOARD.
TO HALL
AND
MAIN PART or HOUSE.
below, and at the sides of the sink, all this space should
be finished in hard wood. If tiles be used, have a broad
capping of hard wood extend across the upper edge of
the top row, in which to place brass hooks for the various
small utensils in frequent use at the sink.
14 MISS PARLOA'S KITCHEN COMPANION.
Between the doors leading to the china closet and the
hall have a dresser. Here can be kept the kitchen table-
ware and some utensils. Near the back part of each
shelf have a groove, so that plates and platters may be
placed on edge without danger of their falling. There
also should be two drawers, and below the drawers two
closets containing shelves. The doors of the upper part
of the dresser should be made in part of glass, and in-
stead of swinging on hinges they should slide one in
front of the other.
Page 3
Presented as published in 1887. 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
It is well to have the woodwork in a kitchen oiled. A wainscot is desirable. Have the walls painted a rather light color. If one can afford it, the walls about the range and sink should be tiled. At the outset tiles may appear costly, but after experience one finds it is really a saving to use them. They can easily be kept perfectly clean, and will last as long as the house itself. English or Dutch tiles should be used, and there is nothing more appropriate than the blue and white. The price for furnishing and setting such tiles is from seventy cents to a dollar per square foot. Probably the time will come when nobody will think of finishing a house without them.
Do not be satisfied with a small sink. Have one of good size, and of iron, with a sloping and grooved shelf at one end, on which to drain dishes after washing them. Let the sink rest on iron legs. The space under it should not be enclosed, as every dark place is a source of temptation to a slovenly domestic.
One caution in regard to the sink : have the strainer screwed down firm. Anything that will not pass through the strainer should not go into the pipes. The hinged or loose strainer gives but little protection, as the temptation to lift it and let sediment pass through is very great. With an immovable strainer and the use, once a fortnight, of the hot solution of soda described in the chapter on " Care of Utensils," there will be no trouble with pipes, unless it be caused by wear or freezing. After using the hot soda, flush the pipes with cold water. This plan has been followed in the care of the plumbing of a large house for many years, with the most satisfactory results. Put hooks under the sink, for dish-cloths, dish-pans, etc. Unless there be tiles above,
ROLLER FOR TOWEL
ABOVE QROOVEO
DRAINING BOARD.
TO HALL
AND
MAIN PART or HOUSE.
below, and at the sides of the sink, all this space should be finished in hard wood. If tiles be used, have a broad capping of hard wood extend across the upper edge of the top row, in which to place brass hooks for the various small utensils in frequent use at the sink.
Between the doors leading to the china closet and the hall have a dresser. Here can be kept the kitchen tableware and some utensils. Near the back part of each shelf have a groove, so that plates and platters may be placed on edge without danger of their falling. There also should be two drawers, and below the drawers two closets containing shelves. The doors of the upper part of the dresser should be made in part of glass, and instead of swinging on hinges they should slide one in front of the other.