CHAPTER VIII
FORM IV: JUNIOR GRADE (Continued)
CARE OF THE HOUSE
The pupils of Form IV Junior should be urged to take entire care of their own bed-rooms. The Household Management teacher can do much to encourage them in this. She may include such work as part of the week's practice.
The order of work should be discussed and planned by the pupils, the teacher guiding the class by her questioning. In lessons of this kind, the main work of the teacher is to ascertain what the pupil knows and to systematize her knowledge.
A typewritten sheet of directions may be given each pupil to hang in her room, and may serve as an incentive to her to perform the duties outlined.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE DAILY CARE OF A BED-ROOM
1. Open the window, if it has been closed during dressing.
2. Throw the bed-clothing over the foot of the bed, using a chair to hold it from the floor, or place it over two chairs near the window.
3. Put night clothing to air.
4. Put away any other clothing in drawers and closet.
5. Tidy and dust the top of the dressing-table.
6. Make the bed, after it has been aired at least half an hour.
Once a week the following work should be added:
1. The blankets and comforter should be hung outside to air.
2. The mattress should be turned, and fresh bed-linen placed on the bed.
3. The room should be thoroughly swept and dusted.
After the pupils have had training in the care of their bed-rooms, this experience, together with their lessons in cleaning, should enable them to keep any of the other rooms in the house in good order.
It should be pointed out that, in these days of sanitary building and furnishing, there is no necessity for the semi-annual "housecleaning" of former times. Each week the house can be thoroughly gone over, with the exception of laundering curtains and washing wood-work, and these duties might be taken in turn, a room at a time every week, so that the work will not accumulate.
The class should be taught to consider the economy of time and energy and encouraged to provide themselves with all the latest aids they can afford.
The cleaning methods which are necessary for this work and which have not been formally taught, should now be definitely outlined. These are the weekly sweeping, weekly dusting, and cleaning special metals.
DIRECTIONS FOR WEEKLY SWEEPING
1. Dust and put away all small articles.
2. Lift the small rugs, sweep them on both sides, out-of-doors if possible, and leave them to air. Rugs too large to take out should be brushed and folded over to allow of sweeping the under side and wiping the floor beneath.
3. Cover the furniture with dust sheets.
4. Shut the doors and open a window.
5. Begin at the side of the room farthest from the door and sweep toward the centre; sweep from the other side toward the centre; gather the dust in a dust-pan and empty it into the garbage pail or fire.
6. Put away the broom and dust-pan.
7. Leave the room shut up for a few minutes, in order to allow the dust to settle.
8. Use a "dustless" mop to dust the floor.
DIRECTIONS FOR WEEKLY DUSTING
1. Use a soft cotton or cheesecloth duster very slightly dampened.
2. Roll up the covers that are over the furniture and carry them outside, in order to shake off the dust.
3. Wipe the dust from the furniture, pictures, window-sills, ledges, doors, and baseboard, being careful not to scatter it in the air.
4. Change the duster when necessary.
5. Replace the small articles.
6. Wash and dry the dusters.
CARE AND CLEANING OF METALS
IRON OR STEEL
Utensils made of these are heavy, but strong and durable, and hold the heat well.
1. Care:
They must be kept dry and smooth. Moisture causes rust, roughens the surfaces of the utensils, and makes them more difficult to clean. If they are not to be used for some time, the surfaces should be greased or coated with paraffin.
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds, rinse in hot water, and dry thoroughly.
(2) If food is burned on, scour with some gritty material or boil in a solution of washing soda, rinse in hot water, and dry thoroughly.
TIN
Utensils made of this are light and inexpensive; they are good conductors of heat, but they are also good radiators and lose heat quickly.
1. Care:
As tinware is steel or iron coated with liquid tin, the grades vary according to the "base-metal" used and the thickness of the coating. Utensils made of this metal must be carefully kept from scratches, since deep scratches expose the base-metal and allow the formation of rust.
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds, rinse, and dry thoroughly.
(2) If food is burned on, boil in a weak solution of washing soda, rinse in hot water, and dry thoroughly.
Note.—Whiting may be used to brighten the tin, but scouring is not recommended, as it wears off the coating.
GRANITE AND ENAMEL WARE
Utensils made of this are attractive, not heavy, and they do not tarnish or rust.
1. Care:
These wares are made by coating steel or sheet-iron with a specially prepared glassy substance called enamel or glaze. Two or three coats are applied. The durability depends on the ingredients used in the glaze and on the number of coats applied.
Such utensils should be heated gradually, scraped carefully, and handled without knocking, to avoid "chipping".
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds.
(2) If stained, use some scouring powder; wash and dry.
(3) If food is burned on, boil in a solution of washing soda and then scour; wash and dry.
ALUMINIUM
Utensils made of this are very light in weight and, as they have no crevices, are easily cleaned. They are also good conductors of heat.
1. Care:
This metal warps under a high temperature, and should, therefore, be used with care. Do not turn the gas on full, or, if used over wood or coal fires, be sure to leave the stove lid on.
Some foods injure the metal, if they are allowed to remain in it very long.
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot water, with mild soap. Alkalies should not be used, as they darken the surface.
(2) If food is burned on, the dish should be soaked in water and then scoured with bathbrick or emery powder.
(3) Whiting may be used to brighten it.
ZINC
This is not used for utensils, but for table tops and for placing under stoves, etc.
Cleaning:
(1) Use hot water and mild soap. Alkalies and acids affect zinc and should be used with care.
(2) If stained, rub with coal-oil or a paste made of coal-oil and soda, and then wash in hot water.
GALVANIZED IRON
This is used for garbage pails, ash pans, stove pipes, etc. It is made by dipping sheet-iron into melted zinc.
Cleaning:
The same as for zinc.
COPPER OR BRASS
Utensils made of these are heavy but durable and are good conductors of heat. They are dangerous, if not properly cleaned.
Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot water, using a little washing soda to remove any grease, rinse well, and dry.
(2) If stained or tarnished, scour with salt and vinegar, then rinse thoroughly, and dry.
SILVER
This is used for spoons, knives, forks, and serving dishes, but never for cooking utensils, on account of its cost. It is the best conductor of heat among the house metals.
Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds.
(2) If stained or tarnished, use whiting or silver polish, wash, and dry.
RECIPE FOR SILVER POLISH
| 2 tbsp. borax | 1/2 cup alcohol |
| 1 cup boiling water | whiting. |
1. Dissolve the borax in the water.
2. When cold, add the alcohol and enough whiting to make a thin cream.
3. Bottle, and shake when used.
Note.—The care and cleaning of the metals out of which ordinary utensils are made, such as granite ware, tin, and steel, may be taught incidentally as the utensils are used.