The broom should be of about medium weight, held almost perpendicularly
and passed over the carpet with a long, light stroke and steady
pressure which will not scatter the dirt, and turned every few strokes
that both sides may receive equal wear. Steps can be saved by sweeping
to a central point, going with the nap of the carpet, never against it,
taking special care to dislodge the dust which gathers between the
edges of the carpet and the baseboard. Shreds of dampened paper, or
damp bran scattered over the carpet facilitate its cleaning; or in lieu
of these the broom may be wet and shaken as free from water as possible
before using. Any method of keeping down the dust saves much cleaning
of woodwork, walls, and pictures. Rugs are swept in the same way as
carpets. After they are cleaned the edges are turned up and the bare
floor gone over with a long-handled hair brush, or with a broom covered
with a Canton-flannel bag. If the floor is painted, follow the duster
with a damp cloth; if hardwood, rub well with a flannel slightly
moistened with crude oil and turpentine. Small rugs are taken out of
doors and shaken or beaten. They must be held by the sides, never by
the ends. Matting should be swept with a soft broom and wiped over
with a damp cloth, using as little water as possible, and no soap,
which stains and discolors it. Rubbing with a cloth wrung out of hot
water will usually take out the spots which the regular cleaning has
failed to remove, while grease spots yield to the application of a thin
paste of fuller's earth left for three days and then brushed off.
Rooms not in daily use do not need a thorough sweeping oftener than
every two weeks, a whisk broom and carpet sweeper sufficing between
times.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account