While the dust is settling put a fresh bag or a clean, soft duster on
the broom and brush off ceiling and walls, using a straight downward
stroke for the latter. The cloth must be renewed when it becomes
soiled. A long-handled feather duster is handy for cleaning moldings
and cornices. This, by the way, is the only legitimate use to which a
feather duster can be put, in addition to dusting books and the backs
and wires of pictures. Instead of taking up the dust, it simply sets
it free to settle elsewhere, making a lingering trouble, long drawn
out; for though one may whisk around with it and then enjoy the
conscious virtue which comes with having "one more thing out of the
way," the complacency is short-lived and the cheesecloth duster finally
has to come to the rescue. All dusters should be hemmed, otherwise the
ravelings are apt to catch and pull down the bric-a-brac. After the
walls Phyllis dusts the woodwork and goes over it with a clean, damp
cloth, not omitting doorknobs, and looking out for finger marks in
likely places. If these are stubborn, a little kerosene in the
cleaning water will help on the good work. She brushes and wipes off
the window casings and gas fixtures, dusts and replaces the furniture,
polishes the mirrors, and washes the windows the last thing, provided
the sun is not shining on them at this time. If so, the work will have
to be deferred and slipped in with special work of some other time. In
localities where there is little smoke the weekly washing may be
dispensed with, dusting off each pane with a soft cloth being all that
is necessary. In freezing weather this is the only cleaning possible,
though if the glass is much soiled it can be gone over with a sponge
wet with alcohol; or with whiting mixed with diluted alcohol or
ammonia, followed by much the same rubbing process employed in cleaning
silver, with a final polishing with soft paper, tissue preferably,
which gives the finest possible shine to any vitreous surface. If
there are inside or outside blinds, they must be well brushed, and
casings and sills which are much soiled washed, before the glass is
cleaned. The requirements for successful window cleaning are a third
of a pail of hot water containing a little ammonia or borax, plenty of
clean, soft cloths free from lint, a complete absence of soap, and a
decided presence of energy--aye, there's the rub! The less water used
the better. Instead of allowing it to run down in tears, squeeze the
cloth out nearly dry, going quickly over one pane at a time, following
immediately with a dry cloth, and then polishing. Wrap the cleaning
cloth around a skewer and go into the corners and around the edges of
the glass. Nothing is more productive of distorted vision than looking
through a glass darkly. Wherefore, for the sake of the mental as well
as the physical eye, see that Phyllis's window cleaning is a success.
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