FORM IV: JUNIOR GRADE (Continued)
CARE OF THE HOUSE
The pupils of Form IV Junior should be urged to take entire care of
their own bed-rooms. The Household Management teacher can do much to
encourage them in this. She may include such work as part of the week's
practice.
The order of work should be discussed and planned by the pupils, the
teacher guiding the class by her questioning. In lessons of this kind,
the main work of the teacher is to ascertain what the pupil knows and to
systematize her knowledge.
A typewritten sheet of directions may be given each pupil to hang in her
room, and may serve as an incentive to her to perform the duties
outlined.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE DAILY CARE OF A BED-ROOM
1. Open the window, if it has been closed during dressing.
2. Throw the bed-clothing over the foot of the bed, using a chair to
hold it from the floor, or place it over two chairs near the window.
3. Put night clothing to air.
4. Put away any other clothing in drawers and closet.
5. Tidy and dust the top of the dressing-table.
6. Make the bed, after it has been aired at least half an hour.
Once a week the following work should be added:
1. The blankets and comforter should be hung outside to air.
2. The mattress should be turned, and fresh bed-linen placed on the bed.
3. The room should be thoroughly swept and dusted.
After the pupils have had training in the care of their bed-rooms, this
experience, together with their lessons in cleaning, should enable them
to keep any of the other rooms in the house in good order.
It should be pointed out that, in these days of sanitary building and
furnishing, there is no necessity for the semi-annual "housecleaning" of
former times. Each week the house can be thoroughly gone over, with the
exception of laundering curtains and washing wood-work, and these duties
might be taken in turn, a room at a time every week, so that the work
will not accumulate.
The class should be taught to consider the economy of time and energy
and encouraged to provide themselves with all the latest aids they can
afford.
The cleaning methods which are necessary for this work and which have
not been formally taught, should now be definitely outlined. These are
the weekly sweeping, weekly dusting, and cleaning special metals.
DIRECTIONS FOR WEEKLY SWEEPING
1. Dust and put away all small articles.
2. Lift the small rugs, sweep them on both sides, out-of-doors if
possible, and leave them to air. Rugs too large to take out should be
brushed and folded over to allow of sweeping the under side and wiping
the floor beneath.
3. Cover the furniture with dust sheets.
4. Shut the doors and open a window.
5. Begin at the side of the room farthest from the door and sweep toward
the centre; sweep from the other side toward the centre; gather the dust
in a dust-pan and empty it into the garbage pail or fire.
6. Put away the broom and dust-pan.
7. Leave the room shut up for a few minutes, in order to allow the dust
to settle.
8. Use a "dustless" mop to dust the floor.
DIRECTIONS FOR WEEKLY DUSTING
1. Use a soft cotton or cheesecloth duster very slightly dampened.
2. Roll up the covers that are over the furniture and carry them
outside, in order to shake off the dust.
3. Wipe the dust from the furniture, pictures, window-sills, ledges,
doors, and baseboard, being careful not to scatter it in the air.
4. Change the duster when necessary.
5. Replace the small articles.
6. Wash and dry the dusters.
CARE AND CLEANING OF METALS
IRON OR STEEL
Utensils made of these are heavy, but strong and durable, and hold the
heat well.
1. Care:
They must be kept dry and smooth. Moisture
causes rust, roughens the surfaces of the
utensils, and makes them more difficult to
clean. If they are not to be used for some
time, the surfaces should be greased or coated
with paraffin.
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds, rinse in hot water,
and dry thoroughly.
(2) If food is burned on, scour with some
gritty material or boil in a solution of
washing soda, rinse in hot water, and dry
thoroughly.
TIN
Utensils made of this are light and inexpensive; they are good
conductors of heat, but they are also good radiators and lose heat
quickly.
1. Care:
As tinware is steel or iron coated with liquid
tin, the grades vary according to the
"base-metal" used and the thickness of the
coating. Utensils made of this metal must be
carefully kept from scratches, since deep
scratches expose the base-metal and allow the
formation of rust.
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds, rinse, and dry
thoroughly.
(2) If food is burned on, boil in a weak
solution of washing soda, rinse in hot water,
and dry thoroughly.
NOTE.--Whiting may be used to brighten the tin,
but scouring is not recommended, as it wears
off the coating.
GRANITE AND ENAMEL WARE
Utensils made of this are attractive, not heavy, and they do not tarnish
or rust.
1. Care:
These wares are made by coating steel or
sheet-iron with a specially prepared glassy
substance called enamel or glaze. Two or three
coats are applied. The durability depends on
the ingredients used in the glaze and on the
number of coats applied.
Such utensils should be heated gradually,
scraped carefully, and handled without
knocking, to avoid "chipping".
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds.
(2) If stained, use some scouring powder; wash
and dry.
(3) If food is burned on, boil in a solution of
washing soda and then scour; wash and dry.
ALUMINIUM
Utensils made of this are very light in weight and, as they have no
crevices, are easily cleaned. They are also good conductors of heat.
1. Care:
This metal warps under a high temperature, and
should, therefore, be used with care. Do not
turn the gas on full, or, if used over wood or
coal fires, be sure to leave the stove lid on.
Some foods injure the metal, if they are
allowed to remain in it very long.
2. Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot water, with mild soap. Alkalies
should not be used, as they darken the surface.
(2) If food is burned on, the dish should be
soaked in water and then scoured with bathbrick
or emery powder.
(3) Whiting may be used to brighten it.
ZINC
This is not used for utensils, but for table tops and for placing under
stoves, etc.
Cleaning:
(1) Use hot water and mild soap. Alkalies and
acids affect zinc and should be used with care.
(2) If stained, rub with coal-oil or a paste
made of coal-oil and soda, and then wash in hot
water.
GALVANIZED IRON
This is used for garbage pails, ash pans, stove pipes, etc. It is made
by dipping sheet-iron into melted zinc.
Cleaning:
The same as for zinc.
COPPER OR BRASS
Utensils made of these are heavy but durable and are good conductors of
heat. They are dangerous, if not properly cleaned.
Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot water, using a little washing
soda to remove any grease, rinse well, and dry.
(2) If stained or tarnished, scour with salt
and vinegar, then rinse thoroughly, and dry.
SILVER
This is used for spoons, knives, forks, and serving dishes, but never
for cooking utensils, on account of its cost. It is the best conductor
of heat among the house metals.
Cleaning:
(1) Wash in hot soap-suds.
(2) If stained or tarnished, use whiting or
silver polish, wash, and dry.
RECIPE FOR SILVER POLISH
2 tbsp. borax
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup alcohol whiting.
1. Dissolve the borax in the water.
2. When cold, add the alcohol and enough
whiting to make a thin cream.
3. Bottle, and shake when used.
NOTE.--The care and cleaning of the metals out
of which ordinary utensils are made, such as
granite ware, tin, and steel, may be taught
incidentally as the utensils are used.