Build your Home for Convenience

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 43, 9 May 1930, Page 27

Build your Home for Convenience

Electricity properly installed is Economical

HERD is to-day, undoubtedly, a revival of interest in home-making and those who are building ‘or about to build a house, will be wise to remember that they are building for the future. , Women are rapidly realising that efficieucy in household work will be bought about only by. the agency of electricity, and architects, builders and engineers will be obliged to conform to their demands. It is of little use putting up a house to-day that will be out-of-date in ten year’s time. Therefore, it behoves one to think and plan electrically. Fifty years.ago, the "house-proud woman" prided herself on spending all or most of her waking hours in household duties. To-day, a woman ‘can be equally "house-proud" and with great- . er reason, and get through her duties more efficiently in an hour or two, . "The growing interest im the. subject of electricity in the minds of all those women, who are about to be home--makers, in the best sense of the word, ealls for thought as to how large a. part it shall play in the new -home. .. ~Blectrie lighting will, of course, be a sine, qua non, but not just the old, bald, necessary lighting, we hope. Soft decorative effects, without glare, at no extra cost (probably less) beyond the first cost of installation of a few extra points are obtainable. But what of electrical. cooking, heating, and water-heating, to say nothing of washing-machines, cleaners, and dish-washers? Is ‘not this the time to instal them, and so save extra building costs? Are those of us now building going to be wise in time, or are we erroneously afraid of the bogey of expense? If so, a little consideration will show us that this bogey soon vanishes. FULECTRICAL heating is cheap, cleanly and decorative; it.can be . adapted to any room. It does away * with the. expensive brick-work . for chimneys and the need for storageroom or fuel. The elimination of fire-tHhices alone, which, in the ‘past, have™ictated the position of doors, windows and furniture, gives entire freedom to new ideas of where fittings and furniture can be placed; a complete change-over can be effected to suit the fancy or convenience of the home-maker at any time. ° The electric range, which will practically run itself, at a very small cost, will, of course, supersede the old fuel range, with its dirt, dust and ashes, and the need for continual stoking, in the kitchen. Here again, no chimney will be required for there will be no fumes or smoke to disperse. Electrical water-heating once instalT&d serves not only bath-room, kitchensink, ete., but will supply hot water for the electric washing-mathine, which will surely be a feature of every up-to-date house. Apart from its labour-saving qualities, sufficient recommendations’ in themselves, the electric washing-machine will not only

save space, being conveniently tucked away beneath the kitchen eabinet when not in use, but it obviates the necessity for building the old-fashion-ed wash-house, and the costly copper, tubs, taps, ete. AN electrical dish-washer fitted to the kitchen sink, worked by the press of a button, takes away all the horrors of washing-up, the thought of which spoils the enjoyment of many 4 meal, and an ironing machine, that is easily converted into a useful table, goes far to completing an ideal kitchen.

The electric vacuum-cleaner Wil, Of | course, take care of all_ the housework, besides accomplishing such odd jobs as cleaning the car, drying the hair after a shampoo, fumigating and so on, while it will also keep polished floors: in perfect condition. Minor appliances, such as kettles, coffee-percolators, toasters, and irons will literally enable all household operations to be performed by a tury of the switch, and it literally remains in the hands of the woman who is puilding a home to-day, to say whether those same hands shall ever be soiled and roughened by household tasks, as in the past. WHILE the cost to the consumer of practically every other commodity has risen since the World War, the cost of electricity has steadily decreased and becomes less in proportion, the more it is used. A comparison of the cost of electrical energy with other every-day necessities of modern existence shows that for the work it does and the benefits it confers, electricity is by far the cheapest of them all. It is available to nearly every home in this country, ready to do our bidding at any and all hours, and its time and labour-saving qualities place it among the absolute necessities of today. In the home, electricity more than pays its way, the minutes saved and the labour lessened by its application resulting in many hours of tithe being saved, which can be used to better advantage. Tedious tasks are disposed of quickly and easily by the use of proper electrical appliances, which are now obtainable to lighten almost every form of household work. Those who wisely take advantage of the low cost of electrie power are saving time, money. and. energy.. It is certain that not only with a growing army of women waking up to the very material influence it has upon their own and the family’s well-being. but with girls now cultivating acquaintance with electricity during school life, learning how it works and what it will do to lessen labour.in the home, that the time is coming when all homes with any pretence to being up to date will: be entirely electrically equipped. It is not necessary, however, to wait until then. WHlectricity should be made your general servant now. .