But in the presence of direct sun shine, dust is rendered harmless. Hence choose furnishings that sun shine will not harm, and admit the sunlight freely to all parts of the house.
Preventing Dust. — A certain amount of dust, according to local conditions, is always floating in the outer air, and finds its way into dwellings through doors, windows, and other openings. This cannot usually be much lessened except by such means as oiling streets; sprin kling streets, lawns, and gardens; the prevention of smoke and the like. But the amount of dust formed with in doors by the wear of fabrics, fur niture, woodwork, and other objects, can be much lessened by the selec tion, when furnishing, of durable ar ticles of all sorts, and by protecting floors, furniture, and other woodwork by suitable coatings of oil, wax, paint, or varnish. And, in addition, vari ous means may be taken to prevent the distribution of dust when sweep ing.
Removing Dust. — The ordinary means of removing dust is by sweep ing, and afterwards wiping all ex posed surfaces by means of a damp cloth, chamois, or other suitable dust er. Good ventilation is also valuable as a, means of removing dust, espe cially if the intake is screened so that the fresh air is pure when admitted. Carpet sweepers are especially valu able as dust removers. But the mod ern vacuum cleaners may be regard ed as ideal for this purpose.
Vacuum Cleaners.—At present this method of cleaning is somewhat ex pensive, and is confined to localities where electric or other power is available. It is to be hoped, how ever, that vacuum-cleaning apparatus may be devised that can be run by cheap gasoline or alcohol motors at a price within the means of the aver age family. These cleaners, by pro ducing a vacuum, cause suction pow erful enough to draw dust, dirt, and other small objects out of the fiber of carpets and hangings, and from the surface of woodwork, furniture, and other objects. The dust is taken in through a suitable mouthpiece provided with a handle with which to guide it as desired, and carried, to gether with a current of air, through a tube into a receptacle containing wa ter. This may afterwards be emptied,
and all dust permanently removed from the premises. There is little doubt that some such means of clean ing will eventually take the place of the broom and carpet sweeper in or dinary households, and that thus the dust question will be finally and sat isfactorily settled.
Dusters.—The object of dusting is, or should be, to remove the dust per manently from the room, and not merely to change its location from hangings, shelves, or furniture cover ing, whence it will be stirred by every footstep and carried by the first breeze back to its former resting place.
The old-fashioned feather duster is useful for moving the dust from one place to another, but for no other pur pose. The feather duster doubtless owes its popularity to the long handle, which permits of dusting the lower parts of furniture without stooping, and also of dusting objects that would otherwise be out of reach. A substi tute may be made on the same plan by using a short piece of broomstick, the handle of an old feather duster, or a child's broom, and fastening to the end with cord or wire in the same way that a whisk broom is wired, a deep double ruffle made of any suit able cloth and of any desired length and thickness.
A duster made in this way will retain the dust better than a feath er duster, and it can be shaken out of the window. Cheese cloth is perhaps the best material for this form of duster, but almost any soft fabric may be employed.
Or hem squares of cheese cloth of any convenient size.
Or use the tops of old cotton or silk hose, either men's or women's. Cut these down the seam and whip them together with a loose seam.
Or for certain purposes, as dusting around baseboards, over windows, doors, and all woodwork that it is dif ficult to reach with a cloth, use a com mon dish mop. This is much superior to a feather duster, as it holds the dirt and can be easily cleaned. It will be improved for this purpose by wir ing the upper end with a piece of wire taken from an old whisk broom.