Meanwhile the other worker is collecting, scraping and classifying the other dishes. Before beginning to wash, have all the dishes assorted according to kind and size and placed convenient to hand. When putting away remnants of food it is well to have for the purpose a series of pitchers ranging from three inches to about nine in height. This gives sizes suited to any quantity which may be left over of soups, milk, liquid vegetables, etc. They take less room than bowls, and the graduated series ornaments the shelf.
A wire strainer should be kept in the sink to prevent the larger particles of waste, indissoluble parings, coffee grains, etc., from going down the drain. This saves plumber's bills.
When ready for the washing, begin with the glasses and wash quickly in hot water, either clear or soapy, as preferred. Have at hand a second dish-pan in which is placed a wire rack. Put the glasses in the rack, rinse with hot water, and dry rapidly while still wet and hot. It may be necessary to keep them in the water a moment or two to get them really heated through. In washing glass pitchers put a silver spoon in them before placing in the hot water. This prevents breakage. Treat canning-jars in the same way.
Next wash the silver, having the water soapy and piping hot, in order to get a good polish. Keep spoons, knives and forks in separate groups and all pointing in the same direction.
The smaller, less greasy dishes follow the silver, and then the heavy china. Here, again, let dishes that have held eggs or starchy foods soak awhile in cold or tepid water. Rinse greasy dishes well.
Conclude by scrubbing tables and sink with cloth, brush, soap and sapolio as needed. Put the scrapings in the garbage pail and pour hot water and soda down the pipe to remove the last vestige of grease. Hang up the shining dish-pans, after washing out the towels and dish-cloth in soap and water, if they require it.
A can of Babbitt's Potash of Lye may take the place of the washing-soda.
Bed-Making (Two sheets, blanket, comforter, cover)
Put the lower sheet on with the right side up. Tuck it in neatly at the corners much as one would fold in the corners when wrapping up a box in paper. Place the upper sheet upon this with the right side down. This brings the two right sides together. Let the broad hem in each case be at the head of the bed. That of the upper sheet should just reach the head of the mattress.
Place the blanket with its upper end about six inches from the head of the bed. Then comes the comforter, placed in the same way. Fold the sheet down from the top just where the blanket ends. Tuck all in neatly at the sides and the foot. Now put the spread smoothly over all. It may be tucked in or may hang down as desired. Place the pillows with the closed ends of the cases together.