UTENSILS FOR SWEEPING Carpet Sweeper.—The ideal method of sweeping is by means of a carpet sweeper. This goes over the surface of the carpet with a light and even pressure, and takes up all dust and dirt with the least possible friction and consequent wear upon the carpet, and raises practically no dust at all. It saves strength and time, and prob ably saves money by outwearing the brooms that could be purchased for the same price. Hence a good carpet sweeper may be regarded as a neces sity rather than a luxury in every household.
How to Sweep.—The old-fashioned brooms, however, are still commonly used, and are needed for some pur poses in every household. To sweep well with a broom is an art that calls for quite a little skill and intelli gence. There are wrong ways in sweeping as well as the right way, and the former are perhaps more often practiced than the latter.
250 It is wrong to lean on the broom, or dig into the carpet with great force, as if trying to dig down and get the dirt out of it. This cannot be done except by taking up the carpet and beating it. All the dust and dirt that can be removed is that which lies on the surface.
It is wrong to push the broom for ward so as to drive a cloud of dust into the air.
It is wrong to sweep the whole length of the room toward the door in order to sweep the dirt into the next room. This carries the dirt over a larger surface of carpet than is nec essary.
It is wrong to sweep always on one side of a broom so that it will get lopsided and have to be thrown away.
The right way to use a broom is to keep the handle always inclining for ward and never allow it to come to the perpendicular; much less incline backward. The stroke should be rath er long, the sweeper standing on the soiled portion of the carpet, reaching back, and drawing the dust and dirt forward as if pulling or dragging it over the surface. A skillful sweeper will lift the broom before it be comes perpendicular so as not to raise the slightest dust, and will tap it gently to shake the dirt out of it before reaching back for another stroke.
Begin in one corner, and work along the crack between the baseboard and carpet, as this is where moths and car pet bugs do their most destructive work. Work around the room, sweep ing toward the center, and when that has been reached take up the dust with pan and brush. It is obvious that this process moves the dirt over a smaller surface than sweeping toward one of the doors. The practice of sweeping the dirt from one room into another, even if the latter room be the kitchen, is certainly inadvisable. Both brooms and carpets will wear much longer if sweeping is done in proper fashion, and the dust in furni ture, draperies, and bric-a-brac will be reduced to a minimum.
Sweeping.—Before sweeping dip the broom in hot soapsuds, and have at hand a pailful of soapsuds in which to rinse the broom when it becomes dusty. Squeeze out the water so that the broom is damp but not wet. This practice toughens the straw, makes the broom last much longer, and soft ens it so that it does not cut the car pet. A damp broom also takes up the dirt better than a dry one and pre vents the dust from rising in the air.
To prevent dust when sweeping wet a newspaper, tear it in small pieces, and scatter them over the car pet. Squeeze the paper so that it will not drip.
Or sprinkle the carpet with moist tea leaves, which may be saved daily for this purpose.
If a room is heated by hot air, a good deal of dust will come up through the register. To prevent this, place a fine wire screen or two or three thicknesses of cloth under the regis ter, so that the hot air will be screened in passing through. When shaking down the furnace or removing the ashes sprinkle wet sawdust over the ashes. This will prevent filling the house with dust. When upholstered furniture, draperies, carpets, and Ori ental rugs require dusting, lay over them large pieces of cheese cloth or outing flannel wrung out of cold water, and beat them with a stick or small carpet beater. As the dust arises it will adhere to the wet cloths, and these can be rinsed occasionally.