Page 125

HINTS TO HOUSEKEEPERS. 119

To Keep Furs and Woollens.

Crack the grains of black pepper, and sprinkle in
among your furs and woollen clothes; after they have
been shaken and aired, fold them smooth and put them
in linen bags or sheets; keep them in a large trunk or
dark closet, and look at them once through the summer
to see that they are safe. Tobacco and camphor are also
good to pack them in, but the smell continues with them
a long time, and is disagreeable to some persons; they
should be well shaken and aired before they are worn.

To Keep Curtains.

Take the curtains down in the spring, shake them
carefully and brush the dust from them; let them air a
day, but not so that the sun will fade them; then fold
them neatly, and pin them up in sheets.

Moreen or worsted curtains require the same care as
woollen cloths.

To Keep Blankets in Summer.

If you have any blankets that are soiled and require
washing in the spring, have it nicely done; when they
are perfectly dry, put them on a bedstead in a spare
chamber, keeping out one to use on each bed through
the summer, spread a large sheet over, tuck under all
round, and secure the corners with pins; this will keep
them from dust and moths, and makes a good bed to
use in hot weather.

Carpets.

When you take up carpets in the spring to put down
matting, have them well shaken, and if there are any
spots on them, they should be washed off with a stiff
brush and dried; if there is oil or grease spilt on them,
mix up whiting or nice clay with water; spread it on
both sides of the spot, and baste thick paper over it.
When nearly dry, fold it up the size of a bedstead, and
pin a coarse sheet round it. In this way they will be
secure from moths, and the addition of a few quilted