The sink, unless it is porcelain-lined, should be kept well painted and
enameled, white being preferable to any color. Faucets can be kept
bright by rubbing with whiting and alcohol, followed by a vigorous
polishing with a bit of flannel. It surely cannot be necessary to
suggest the dangers arising from an untidy sink in which refuse of
various kinds--tea leaves, coffee grounds, vegetable parings, and the
like--is allowed to accumulate. Unsanitary conditions about the sink
not only are unsightly, but attract roaches and breed germs which are a
menace to life and health. The rinsing water from coffee and tea pots
and cooking utensils should be poured into the sink strainer, which
catches the odds and ends of refuse and keeps them from clogging the
drain pipe. Grease must never be poured into the sink, nor dish nor
cleaning cloths used after they are worn enough to shed lint. Boiling
water and ammonia should be poured down the drain pipe once a day,
which treatment must be supplemented once a week with a dose of
disinfectant--chloride of lime, copperas, or potash in boiling water.
An occasional inspection by a plumber makes assurance doubly sure that
the condition of the drain pipe is as it should be. All refuse ought
to be burned at once or put into a covered garbage can and disposed of
as soon as possible. The can itself must be scalded every day with sal
soda water, thoroughly dried, and lined with thick, clean paper.
THE PANTRY
The same treatment accorded the kitchen in decoration and care must be
bestowed also upon the pantry, which should be dry and well ventilated.
After a thorough scrubbing with soap and water, with the aid of a dish
mop rinse the shelves with boiling water, dry carefully, and cover with
plain white paper, using the ornamental shelf paper for the edges.
White table oilcloth makes a good covering, and comes specially
prepared with a fancy border for that purpose. The convenient pantry
is equipped with both shelves and drawers, the latter to contain the
neatly folded piles of dish, glass, and hand towels, cheesecloth
dusters, holders, and cleaning cloths. There are usually four shelves,
the top one being reserved for articles of infrequent use. On the
others are arranged the kitchen dishes, pans, and all utensils which do
not hang, together with jars and cans containing food. Leave nothing
in paper bags or boxes to attract insects, soil the shelves, and give a
disorderly appearance to an otherwise tidy pantry. Glass fruit jars
are desirable repositories for small dry groceries--tea, coffee, rice,
tapioca, raisins, currants, and the like--though very dainty and
serviceable covered porcelain jars in blue and white are made
especially for this purpose, those of medium size costing 25 cents
each, the smaller ones less, the larger more. Jars or cans of japanned
tin, designed for like use, are less expensive, but also less
attractive, and in the course of time are liable to rust, particularly
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