As soon as one is dressed in the morning, the windows in the bed-room
should be opened wide to air the room thoroughly, and the bed-clothes
should be removed and put on chairs before the window to air. The night
clothing should also be aired. The slops should be emptied, and the
chamber should be washed with cold water, using a special cloth. The
basin should be washed in warm, soapy water, which should then be poured
into the chamber and used for washing it. The toilet articles should be
washed, then the basin rinsed and wiped dry. The slop jar should be
washed out thoroughly, and both the slop jar and the chamber should be
cleaned frequently with chloride of lime or some other disinfectant. The
pitcher should be filled with fresh water, and all the articles arranged
neatly on the wash-stand. If the towels are soiled, clean ones should be
supplied. The mattress should be turned and the bed made carefully; the
lower sheet being tucked under the mattress all around, and the other
covers tucked in at the bottom and sides of the bed. The bed should be
kept free from wrinkles and smooth in appearance, and the pillows should
be well shaken and arranged at the head of the bed. The floor should be
swept, the furniture dusted, and everything put in place. The windows
should be left partly opened, so that the bed-room may be well aired.
Fresh air is always necessary, but especially during sleep, when the
body is repairing itself, and it is important that the room should be
well aired during the day and the windows left open at night.
When the room is to be thoroughly cleaned, the frame of the bed should
be dusted, the mattress turned, and the bed should be made. The window
shades should be dusted and rolled up. The curtains should be well
shaken and covered, if one has a dust sheet. All the small articles on
the bureau, table, and shelf should be placed on the bed, and the whole
covered with a sheet. The tables, chairs, and any other movable
furniture should be dusted and placed outside the room or covered. The
rugs should be rolled and cleaned out-of-doors. The room should be swept
and dusted. As soon as the dust has settled, the covers should be
removed, and the furniture, rugs, and all the small articles should be
restored to their places. The shades should be adjusted, and the room
left in perfect order. The broom and everything else that has been used
in the work should be cleaned and put back into their places.