m covered
with a Canton-flannel bag. If the floor is painted, follow the duster
with a damp cloth; if hardwood, rub well with a flannel slightly
moistened with crude oil and turpentine. Small rugs are taken out of
doors and shaken or beaten. They must be held by the sides, never by
the ends. Matting should be swept with a soft broom and wiped over
with a damp cloth, using as little water as possible, and no soap,
which stains and discolors it. Rubbing with a cloth wrung out of hot
water will usually take out the spots which the regular cleaning has
failed to remove, while grease spots yield to the application of a thin
paste of fuller's earth left for three days and then brushed off.
Rooms not in daily use do not need a thorough sweeping oftener than
every two weeks, a whisk broom and carpet sweeper sufficing between
times.

While the dust is settling put a fresh bag or a clean, soft duster on
the broom and brush off ceiling and walls, using a straight downward
stroke for the latter. The cloth must be renewed when it becomes
soiled. A long-handled feather duster is handy for cleaning moldings
and cornices. This, by the way, is the only legitimate use to which a
feather duster can be put, in addition to dusting books and the backs
and wires of pictures. Instead of taking up the dust, it simply sets
it free to settle elsewhere, making a lingering trouble, long drawn
out; for though one may whisk around with it and then enjoy the
conscious virtue which comes with having "one more thing out of the
way," the complacency is short-lived and the cheesecloth duster finally
has to come to the rescue. All dusters should be hemmed, otherwise the
ravelings are apt to catch and pull down the bric-a-brac. After the
walls Phyllis dusts the woodwork and goes over it with a clean, damp
cloth, not omitting doorknobs, and looking out for finger marks in
likely places. If these are stubborn, a little kerosene in the
cleaning water will help on the good work. She brushes and wipes off
the window casings and gas fixtures, dusts and replaces the furniture,
polishes the mirrors, and washes the windows the last thing, provided
the sun is not shining on them at this time. If so, the work will have
to be deferred and slipped in with special work of some other time. In
localities where there is little smoke the weekly washing may be
dispensed with, dusting off each pane with a soft cloth being all that
is necessary. In freezing wea