Dust all ornaments laying them carefully under dusting sheet on sofa or
bed.
All little things being out of the room and large pieces of furniture
covered, sweep carpet or rug, and then, with dustless mop, go over the
floor, being careful to clean under heavy pieces of furniture that
cannot be moved, rubbing the floor well, but not using oil, as it soils
light dresses, or water, as it takes the polish off. Once a month or
oftener wax the floor and polish it with a soft cloth on your broom or a
polishing brush that comes for the purpose.
_Clean mirrors_ by washing with water that has a little ammonia in it.
Wipe and polish with a lintless cloth or newspaper. Newspaper is always
on hand and makes a fine polish.
_Wash the gas globes_ if they are dirty (probably about once a month),
being careful not to screw them on tight when they are put back, as that
makes the globes crack when they get hot.
_Take away_ all soiled bureau and sideboard covers. Lay the fire if it
has been used, and wash up the hearth.
_Laying a coal fire in the grate_: Put the blower on to prevent as much
as possible the ashes flying about. Shake the ashes down through the
bars of the grate with a poker. Remove them from the pan with the shovel
and put them in the coal scuttle. Take the ash-pan out and brush under
it. Take the blower off and twist newspapers in loose rolls and put them
in the bottom of the grate. Lay kindlings crosswise on top of the paper
with spaces for draughts in between. Put coal on top of the kindlings.
When the fire is wanted, put the blower on, and light the fire from
below. When the coal is well caught, take the blower off.
_Laying an open wood fire_: Place a large log close against the back of
the chimney, another in front, leaving a space between. In this space
between the two lay lightly pieces of newspaper twisted loosely; on top
of this paper place kindlings crosswise resting on both logs, and far
enough apart to let the air through; then one or two other sticks on top
of the kindlings bark side down. Do not remove the ashes from a wood
fire, as it burns better on a bed of hot ashes.
If soot should ever fall from the chimney on to the rug, sprinkle the
place thickly with corn meal and brush it up. This removes at once what
otherwise would be a bad stain.
After the fire has been laid, _empty all_ scraps from scrap baskets into
a receptacle and take this and also the hod of ashes, if the fire was of
coal, downstairs.
_Close_ windows, pull shades down half-way, arrange curtains, take
covers off furniture, bring chairs back. Put clean bureau and sideboard
covers on, and put the ornaments back in their places. Fold up dusting
sheets and put them away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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