0The day started sunny and cold, -15° (5°F) but the sun soon disappeared and the temperature rose to a more bearable -7°C (19,4°F) very fast. Our road is very icy and I thought it would be a good idea to use the kick-sledge, which I keep, in the studio's garage. But I haven't opened the door for so long that the earth has built up at the bottom of the door making it impossible to open it. So I have to wait for the ground to thaw before I can reach the sledge — and then I don't need it!
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0There are many ways to spend the time waiting for warmer weather — dusting is not what first comes to my mind. But since I found this instructive lesson on the proper way to sweep a room in the same book I found yesterday's recipe, I thought I share it with you!
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=The Proper Way to Sweep a Room=
Dust the furniture and put it in another room. Dust bric-a-brac and put on the bed if you are sweeping a sleeping room, if another room put them on the table, or in an adjoining room. Brush the draperies, take down and lay on the bed or table. Cover these and bric-a-brac with a sheet. Wet a newspaper, tear into small pieces and spread on the rug or carpet. Now you are ready for sweeping. If the floor is carpeted, sweep all dirt to the center of the room. Sweep the corners with a small whisk broom. Move every piece of furniture lest there be dirt left underneath. Open the windows before sweeping. When the dust is settled take a pail of warm water, put in a tablespoonful of ammonia, then with a clean cloth wrung from this wipe the window glass, mirror and pictures; polish with dry cloth. Wipe all finger marks from doors and mop boards.
Dust the furniture and put it in another room. Dust bric-a-brac and put on the bed if you are sweeping a sleeping room, if another room put them on the table, or in an adjoining room. Brush the draperies, take down and lay on the bed or table. Cover these and bric-a-brac with a sheet. Wet a newspaper, tear into small pieces and spread on the rug or carpet. Now you are ready for sweeping. If the floor is carpeted, sweep all dirt to the center of the room. Sweep the corners with a small whisk broom. Move every piece of furniture lest there be dirt left underneath. Open the windows before sweeping. When the dust is settled take a pail of warm water, put in a tablespoonful of ammonia, then with a clean cloth wrung from this wipe the window glass, mirror and pictures; polish with dry cloth. Wipe all finger marks from doors and mop boards.
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Now take a pail of clean water, with ammonia, and with a small scrubbing brush go over the rug or carpet, to remove dust and brighten the colors. Replace furniture, bric-a-brac and draperies and your room will be sweet and clean. With care, once in two or three weeks, will be often enough to do this.
Now take a pail of clean water, with ammonia, and with a small scrubbing brush go over the rug or carpet, to remove dust and brighten the colors. Replace furniture, bric-a-brac and draperies and your room will be sweet and clean. With care, once in two or three weeks, will be often enough to do this.
Margaretha, that sounds very time-consuming. I'm glad I would only have to do it every two or three weeks. But I don't understand why torn, wet pieces of newspaper were used.
SvaraRaderaMaureen,
SvaraRaderaDo you remember the wet sawdust they used when sweeping in our childhood? At least it looked as sawdust, and it was probably some chemicals in it as it had a very pungent smell. They used it in keeping our schools and other official buildings clean. I think the wet paper was used for the same purpose, to bind the dust. I don't know what the English term could be I can't even find the Swedish word in any dictionary.
Margaretha