tains, lay them
smoothly on the bed, and pin or tuck up the bottom valance, so that she
may be able to sweep under the bed. She should then unloop the
window-curtains, shake them, and pin them high up out of the way. After
clearing the dressing-table, and the room altogether of little articles
of china, &c. &c., she should shake the toilet-covers, fold them up, and
lay them on the bed, over which a large dusting-sheet should be thrown.
She should then sweep the room; first of all sprinkling the carpet with
well-squeezed tea-leaves, or a little freshly-pulled grass, when this is
obtainable. After the carpet is swept, and the grate cleaned, she should
wash with soap and water, with a little soda in it, the washing-table
apparatus, removing all marks or fur round the jugs, caused by the
water. The water-bottles and tumblers must also have her attention, as
well as the top of the washing-stand, which should be cleaned with soap
and flannel if it be marble: if of polished mahogany, no soap must be
used. When these are all clean and arranged in their places, the
housemaid should scrub the floor where it is not covered with carpet,
under the beds, and round the wainscot. She should use as little soap
and soda as possible, as too free a use of these articles is liable to
give the boards a black appearance. In the country, cold soft water, a
clean scrubbing-brush, and a willing arm, are all that are required to
make bedroom floors look white. In winter it is not advisable to scrub
rooms too often, as it is difficult to dry them thoroughly at that
season of the year, and nothing is more dangerous than to allow persons
to sleep in a damp room. The housemaid should now dust the furniture,
blinds, ornaments, &c.; polish the looking-glass; arrange the
toilet-cover and muslin; remove the cover from the bed, and straighten
and arrange the curtains and counterpane. A bedroom should be cleaned
like this every week. There are times, however, when it is necessary to
have the carpet up; this should be done once a year in the country, and
twice a year in large cities. The best time for these arrangements is
spring and autumn, when the bed-furniture requires changing to suit the
seasons of the year. After arranging the furniture, it should all be
well rubbed and polished; and for this purpose the housemaid should
provide herself with an old silk pocket-handkerchief, to finish the
polishing.

[Illustration: LONG HAIR-BROOM.]

2307. As modern