THE BUSTLE OF SPRING

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 117, 19 September 1941, Page 44

THE BUSTLE OF SPRING

Getting Your House In Order | bed ERYONE-except, perhaps, sufferers from hay fever-loves the spring. It brings with it an urge to get into step with the brightness and beauty of the landscape around you. So you buy a ptetty hat and consider where you will begin spring cleaning the house, says a writer in "The Listener-In" (Australia).

E might begin by putting winter away. Cleaning is the first step in putting away winter things, for spots are particularly liable to moth attack, Furthermore, both washing and dry-cleaning rid garments and soft furnishings of moths in every stage of development, and if the garments are then immediately sealed in paper bags or tight, crack-sealed trunks, they are safe, until taken out again. Wash blankets, spray them with a moth-proofing spray, or else sprinkle them liberally with crystals of paradichlorobenzene, then wrap them up in several layers of paper, seal and store. The paradichlorobenzene crystals form a gas which is death to moths.

Those soiled rugs which you have put up with all winter will probably be quite unbearable in the light of spring sunshine, so try shampooing them. First, vacuum the rug slowly and thoroughly several times. Then, with a soap jelly made from one half-cup of mild soap dissolved in a quart of water, scrub the carpet or rug, a small area at a time, with a moderately stiff scrubbing brush until you have worked up a good lather, Then with a cloth repeatedly dipped and wrung from clear water take up the dirt and lather. Use a clean cloth to rub the rug partly dry. Allow at least 24 hours for drying in a well-ventilated room, You may even iron thera, very gently, and on the wrong side, to give a good finish and raise the nap, Draperies And Wall Hangings Draperies and wall hangings should have any loose dust removed with a vacuum before taking down, Many of the good quality cotton and linen ones _are washable, but first test a small sec- | tion to make sure. If there is any doubt, have them dry-cleaned. Otherwise, ‘launder them in this way. Soak the heavy fabrics thoroughly for two or > ~ —

three hours in cool, heavy suds. After this, wash in fresh, lukewarm water in which has been dissolved enough soap jelly to whip up into a good lather. Rinse in several lots of clean, cool water. If you have a suite upholstered in leather, and its grimy surface is worrying you, apply saddle soap with a lightly moistened sponge, rubbing gently and thoroughly until all the dirt is gone. When the soap is dry, rub the leather briskly with a soft cloth, and you will find it comes up bright and lustrous. Cleaning Lampshades Clean lampshades according to their material. All cleaning of shades begins with brushing to remove loose dust. Some spots may be removed with an artgum rubber. Silk shades sewn to the frame may be brushed gently in soapy water, then rinsed by dipping in clear ,water. Always test contrasting trimmings for fading before washing. Paper parchment shades may be cleaned and polished by wiping over with turpentine, and those lovely shadés of real parchment will be clean and soft in texture after using neatsfoot oil,