988. Washing Pickle and Preserve-Jars.—Whenever pickle or preserve jars are empty, wash them well in cold water—dry them thoroughly—and put them in a dry place. If you wash pickle or preserve-jars in hot water, it will crack their glazed surface, and make them porous, which spoils them for use, as pickles and preserves require to have the air kept from them.
989. Cleaning Dish-Covers.—Dish-covers should always be wiped and polished as soon as they are removed from the table. If this is done whilst they are warm, it will be but little trouble; but, if the steam be allowed to dry on them, you will find much difficulty in getting the tarnish off from the insides. When they are wiped and polished, hang them up in their places immediately.
990. Of the Paste-Board, Rolling-Pin, &c.—After making puddings or pastry, wash your rolling-pin and paste-board, without soap, and put it away quite dry. Never use, nor allow others to use, any of the family dinner or tea-service, in the kitchen; as, if one thing be broken, it would perhaps spoil a valuable set; but, always use for cooking, the plates, dishes, and cups, provided for that purpose, which are usually plain, and though of course equally clean, are much less expensive. Keep the bread, cheese, butter, flour, dripping, milk, eggs, and every thing else you may require in cooking, in their distinct and separate places; and be careful to put them away as soon as you have done with them.
991. Of keeping Hot Water.—It is highly necessary that you should keep a plentiful supply of hot water, by constantly filling-up the boiler whenever water is taken out of it. A self-acting boiler does not require to be filled, as it fills itself as fast as the water is drawn out; but you must be very careful in frosty weather, to watch whether the water continues to run; for if the water in the pipes becomes frozen, and you allow the boiler to get empty, the consequence is almost sure to be, that when the frost melts, the cold water comes suddenly into the hot boiler, and splits it. The damage can only be repaired by having a new boiler, which costs, perhaps, from ten to twenty-five dollars; so you may see how important it is that you should prevent so serious an accident.
992. Of Ventilating Rooms.—Do not keep your kitchen always hot, and be sure you let in fresh air. If the attention of every master or mistress of a family turned to the ventilation of their dwelling, it would be greatly the means of insuring health. One single ventilator in the uppermost staircase window, would effect a great deal. Great attention ought to be paid to letting the chamber-windows down from the top, frequently through the day, particularly where the family sits.