NO CARPETS IN SUMMER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1696, 27 October 1887, Page 2

NO CARPETS IN SUMMER

Says tha " American Analyst " :— The European system of painting floors instead of carpeting them, and deoorating them with handsome ru^i, ia gradually growing m popularity on this side of the Atlantic Carpets, as well as onrtalns, lambrequins, etc., may be deemad neoessary parts of houae furnishing, bat they all collect dost and dirt of a more dangerous charaoter. la the winter they may be tolerated, bat when summer oomes they should all be removed to places of security and proteoted from light and inseot destroyers. The ioors should be oiled with boiled linieed oil, and whenever coverings of any kind are desirable, on account of lessening sounds, rugs and mats should take the plaoe of carpets, and plain shades and shutters will suffice to exolnde too glaring a light and diminish the dast nuisances. Fioors thna treated are kept clean' mhoh easier) aa the oil becomes incorporated with the M wopd and makes a hard finish, bs it is oxidised* by contact with the air* The same treatment of floors, removal of carpets and unnecessary materials for the lodgments of dust and organ io impurities will make the sleeping apartments uraoh more wholesome. It has long beta acknowledged that oarpets are entirely oat of plaoe m the apartments ooonpled by the siok ; an dthey retain the poisons •f snoh diseases as omallpox, diphtheria, and scarlet fever and it seems strange that a oru&ade against them has not long since been organised. In the far-off future, when people shall have learned a moderate amount of sanitary knowledge, ' tha oarpet must go. '