Do not Omit Whitewashing.
Now have the walls whitewashed. Before the various articles stored in the cellar are put back in place, brush them again. Sweep the floor once more. Paint with black enamel varnish the iron parts of the furnace, and also any iron pipes that may be exposed to moisture. An excellent whitewash may be made by putting eight quarts of unslaked lime into a large tub, and pouring over it enough boiling water to make a paste. Stir well, and cover until cold, stirring occasionally, that the wash may be smooth. Dissolve one quart of salt in two quarts of hot water. Dissolve also half an ounce of indigo in about a pint of hot water. Add these substances to the slaked and cooled lime. Now beat well, and add enough cold water to make the mixture the consistency of thin cream. The wash will then be ready to use.
A tub of charcoal and another of lime are excellent things to keep in the cellar. They make it sweeter and dryer, and the charcoal is, of course, very convenient to have on hand for fuel. The unslaked lime should be put in a tub or barrel, with space for it to expand to twice its bulk. It slakes in the air and expands rapidly during the process.