Most carpet sweepers remove the surface dirt and dust on rugs
and carpets. There are a few hand-power sweepers, which are in
reality a combination of the sweeper and the vacuum cleaner,
that suck up some of the dust as well as removing the surface
dirt.
Long-handled Dust Pan
If a long-handled dust pan is used, it is not necessary for the
housewife to stoop when sweeping the collected dirt into the pan.
An excellent type is the one which has a lid that closes auto-
matically as the pan is lifted. This keeps the dirt from being
spilled or falling out.
Wall Brushes
Much climbing and stretching is avoided in cleaning the
ceilings and w^alls by the use of long-handled wall brushes. The
brush part may be of fine bristles which are soft, lamb's wool or
loops of soft cotton twine. When such a brush is not available,
the best substitute is a cotton flannel bag slipped over the bristles
of the broom. Care must be taken not to scratch the walls with
the bristles, that is, not to exert too much pressure on the broom.
LABOK-SAVING DEVICES 259
Floor Mops
For washing a floor the ordinar}^ mop handle with a loosely-
woven piece of cloth fastened in it is satisfactory. A dust mop
for removing the fine particles of dust from the floors saves one
from bending over to wipe up dusty patches. Some of these are
constructed with soft bristles and others with loops of soft cotton
twine which will reach the corners and remove the dust from
them. Sometimes a soft cloth moistened slightly with liquid
wax or oil is tied over the dust mop and rubbed over the floor to
brighten the finish. Care needs to be taken never to apply too
much wax or floor oil since they leave a surface which collects
dust and dirt, and not to use oil and wax on the same floor.
They will not mix.
When the floors of several rooms must be waxed, a weighted
brush with short bristles is used. This rubs in the paste wax and
polishes the wood. Such a brush should never be used on an
oiled floor unless it is covered with a heavy piece of flannel.
Brushes for Cleaning
There are brushes adapted to the cleaning of practically every
piece of household equipment. There are stiff-bristled scrub
brushes for cleaning vegetables, table-tops and other surfaces
and long-handled scrub brushes for scouring floors. Eadiator
pipes may be cleaned by the aid of a long-handled and narrow
brush. A narrow brush with a flexible handle cleanses the drain
pipe of the refrigerator with the aid of soap suds and hot water.
Then there are narrow brushes with similar wire handles for use
in cleaning out bottles, vinegar cruets, and vases. Soft bristles
clean silverware, stiffer ones remove the soil from sinks, bathtubs
and lavatories. Phonograph records can scarcely be cleaned with-
out the use of soft bristles. The homemaker^s hands are pro-
tected greatly by the use of brushes and the bristles are much
more efficient in reaching corners and crevices than a piece of
smooth cloth is.
Cooking Utensils
In buying cooking utensils the prudent homemaker considers
for what they are to be used. Kettles or pans in which vegetables
are to be boiled are most satisfactory if the cover rests on a
260 THE FARM COOK AND EULE BOOK
Page 128
Presented as published in 1923. 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
Most carpet sweepers remove the surface dirt and dust on rugs and carpets. There are a few hand-power sweepers, which are in reality a combination of the sweeper and the vacuum cleaner, that suck up some of the dust as well as removing the surface dirt.
Long-handled Dust Pan
If a long-handled dust pan is used, it is not necessary for the housewife to stoop when sweeping the collected dirt into the pan. An excellent type is the one which has a lid that closes automatically as the pan is lifted. This keeps the dirt from being spilled or falling out.
Wall Brushes
Much climbing and stretching is avoided in cleaning the ceilings and walls by the use of long-handled wall brushes. The brush part may be of fine bristles which are soft, lamb's wool or loops of soft cotton twine. When such a brush is not available, the best substitute is a cotton flannel bag slipped over the bristles of the broom. Care must be taken not to scratch the walls with the bristles, that is, not to exert too much pressure on the broom.
Floor Mops
For washing a floor the ordinary mop handle with a loosely woven piece of cloth fastened in it is satisfactory. A dust mop for removing the fine particles of dust from the floors saves one from bending over to wipe up dusty patches. Some of these are constructed with soft bristles and others with loops of soft cotton twine which will reach the corners and remove the dust from them. Sometimes a soft cloth moistened slightly with liquid wax or oil is tied over the dust mop and rubbed over the floor to brighten the finish. Care needs to be taken never to apply too much wax or floor oil since they leave a surface which collects dust and dirt, and not to use oil and wax on the same floor. They will not mix.
When the floors of several rooms must be waxed, a weighted brush with short bristles is used. This rubs in the paste wax and polishes the wood. Such a brush should never be used on an oiled floor unless it is covered with a heavy piece of flannel.
Brushes for Cleaning
There are brushes adapted to the cleaning of practically every piece of household equipment. There are stiff-bristled scrub brushes for cleaning vegetables, table-tops and other surfaces and long-handled scrub brushes for scouring floors. Radiator pipes may be cleaned by the aid of a long-handled and narrow brush. A narrow brush with a flexible handle cleanses the drain pipe of the refrigerator with the aid of soap suds and hot water. Then there are narrow brushes with similar wire handles for use in cleaning out bottles, vinegar cruets, and vases. Soft bristles clean silverware, stiffer ones remove the soil from sinks, bathtubs and lavatories. Phonograph records can scarcely be cleaned without the use of soft bristles. The homemaker's hands are protected greatly by the use of brushes and the bristles are much more efficient in reaching corners and crevices than a piece of smooth cloth is.
Cooking Utensils
In buying cooking utensils the prudent homemaker considers for what they are to be used. Kettles or pans in which vegetables are to be boiled are most satisfactory if the cover rests on a