Small Matters by MRS. D. A. FITCH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 12, 1914

Small Matters

By MRS. D. A. FITCH

MRS. D. A. FITCH

It is small things which make up the sum of life. It is the little matters which count the most in housekeeping. The minute details of the home, if neglected, cause more annoyance than do the omission of some seemingly important matters.

The Stove

A smoking stove renders the air unwholesome, injures the ceiling, and leaves soot and ashes on the furniture. No stove opening should be left uncovered a moment longer than is actually necessary.

Very little more fuel is required to cook on the top of the stove than in direct contact with the fire. By adopting the former method, the necessity of often opening the stove is obviated, and there are no sooty kettles to soil other things and finally require the unpleasant chore of cleaning. Besides this, moderately slow cooking is much the best, as rapid cooking causes the fine flavors of the food to escape to a great degree. If a pot boils, that is sufficient; and by keeping a medium fire much fuel may be saved.

Did you ever see a careless housekeeper empty her pan of dirt into the open top of the stove instead of the hearth, and notice the dust sail upward to lodge on the most convenient article within reach?

In the Pantry

All good housekeepers keep cupboard doors closed when it is not necessary that they remain open. The pantry is only a large cupboard, and dust is just as objectionable there as in the smaller cupboards. Food is usually stored in these places, and we cannot be too careful of it, and also of dishes. Germs are in the dust.

Let order reign in the pantry if nowhere else in the house. Have a place for each kind of china, and keep each in its place. Arrange another place for food. Do not put food and empty dishes on the same shelf, and just as may be convenient at the moment; for what is more trying than to find that a clean dish has been set into one of the same kind which is partly filled with soup or some other food? Victuals should not be placed in the refrigerator while hot, or even while warm. It is not good for the other foods nor for the refrigerator. Keeping the ice box closed is a great advantage moneywise.

The Silver

If you are using solid instead of plated ware, you may give it almost any kind of abuse; but if the plated ware, it is economy not to use it for cooking purposes, nor to leave soiled pieces waiting a long time before washing and drying, especially if somewhat worn. Silver is badly injured by being moved about in the dish pan; it is best to wash it carefully

When spoons are to be laid in a horizontal position, it is well to let the convex part of the bowl be up, since this saves the ugly wear so often seen.

In the Bedroom

Of course no tidy person will retire at night with the room in disorder, thus making inconveniences for the morning. Good judgment should be used in regard to ventilation, the occupant being sure there are at least two openings into outdoor air. At proper time for rising it is well to take a cool sponge bath, or at least an air bath, accompanied by breathing exercises. Do not cease ventilating the room when you leave it for other duties. See that the bed is as wide open as circumstances will permit, and that a current of air is passing through the room. When sufficiently aired, the bed should be made, the floor cleaned, all dresser drawers or others closed, dead matches and all other rubbish disposed of, slops emptied, and all things left as if visitors were expected.

No cleanly housekeeper will begin handling her breakfast cooking utensils until her hands have been washed. And if not at all convenient to comb the hair, she will at least closely confine it by means of pins or in a cap.

In the Kitchen

Have a sink or other place for washing dishes, and keep all dirty things out of it. It does not seem in keeping with good sanitation to see the hand basin, mop pail, or stomach and spine bags in the same place with cooking utensils and table dishes.

Even if in no other room of the house you use a dampened broom for sweeping, it should be used in the kitchen, that there be as little dust as possible.

Be orderly while working, rather than allow an accumulation of misplaced articles, thus necessitating the use of valuable time in putting them in place.

If possible, secure promptness of the family at all meals, thus avoiding delays, waste of time, indigestion, and many perplexities.

Have plenty of good holders near the stove, and so save burning the fingers. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is true in more than one case.

Be careful about striking the edge of granite ware, for flakes are likely to find their way into the food, which when swallowed may produce some trouble as grave as appendicitis. Bits of glass could be no worse.

To taste from the cooking spoon and return it to the food without washing is quite unsanitary, and should be as carefully avoided as would a like practice at the table.

A good cookstove is much to be preferred to oil, gas, or gasoline for various reasons, but principally because the latter use the oxygen of the air to the extent that humans are not allowed their share of it.

Fruit jar covers should be dried in an oven after having been washed, whether they are to be used immediately or laid

away until the next season. Germs are likely to gather between the cover and its lining if left wet.

Instead of making pie of your pumpkin, prepare it the same as for pies, bake or steam it, and serve as custard.

You should have a well-equipped ironing board, and it should be kept in some place where it will not be exposed to dust, preferably with the face to the wall.

Having no other animals to eat pea pods, try grinding them through the meat mill for the chickens.

There are many reasons why the housekeeper should put forth diligent effort to keep the house rid of the dangerous little creatures we call flies.

In the Sewing Room

A yard of fine thread costs just as much as a yard of that which is twice as coarse. Hence when a strong thread is required, which is the most economical—a single coarse one or a double fine one?

Sometimes a bit of perplexity may be avoided and considerable thread economized by running one seam immediately after another when sewing on the machine. A small bit of cloth may be run under the machine foot, which will, by the setting of a few stitches, serve to hinder the knotting of the thread on the under side at the time a new seam is being begun. Also less thread is used than by the ordinary method.

General

Remember that when sitting, a person is much more susceptible to the cold than when standing. On that account exercise care about leaving doors open. Visitors and perhaps others might not like to speak of their discomfort.

When desiring any important change in the house furnishings or the home management, seek to learn what will suit the convenience of other members of the family.

If one must chew gum or engage in any other disagreeable practice, it is well for him to retire to another room, or at least to such a distance that no one else will be annoyed by sound, sight, or odor.

Artesia, Cal.