Sweeping (Broom, whisk-broom, hair-broom, sheet, sweeping-cap)
Let the little worker don sweeping-cap and apron, and then proceed to dust carefully small articles and books, place them on the bed and cover with an old sheet. Put furniture which is movable in the hall after dusting. Open the window. Then sweep the rugs on both sides and place outside. Pin up the curtains. Then dampen a newspaper and tear into small pieces; throw these on the floor to absorb the dust. Wet tea-leaves may be used for the same purpose.
Sweep, holding the broom rather closely to the floor and taking short strokes, raising as little dust as possible. Then leave the room for awhile, for the dust to settle.
Dusting (Dusters of cheesecloth, clean pieces of old silk, chamois-skin)
On returning to the room after sweeping, wipe off the baseboard, then the furniture, always working from the top down. To reach high corners where cobwebs may lurk, pin on the brush of the broom a cap of cheesecloth and sweep along the edges of the ceiling. For corners under heavy furniture, a small whisk brush or soft hair brush may be needed.
Rub off mirrors with a damp cloth, drying and polishing with chamois-skin or crumpled newspaper. Highly polished furniture may be dusted with soft silk or chamois-skin.
Even small members of the family may be given a share in this work. Little boys and girls can be shown how to dust chairs and furniture within reach of the little arms and hands. It may take more time at first on the mother's part than if she did the work herself; but in the end she is more than repaid. The little child need not be required to do much, but let that little be done thoroughly, if only the legs and rounds of one chair.