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Colored Washes
To make the above a cream-color, add yellow ochre until the desired shade is reached. For fawn-color, add four pounds of umber to one pound of lampblack. For gray or stone-color, four pounds of raw umber to two pounds of lampblack. Add to the whitewash until the desired shade is reached. To determine the color it must be seen dry, and not damp. Hence, when trying the color, let it dry to observe the tint. room.
XII. Arrangement of Furniture.
THE arrangement of furniture may make pleasant or mar the appearance of a Primness and precision should be avoided. If the chairs are set carefully against the wall at equal distances, if the sofa looks as though it had never been sat upon, if the center-table has a touch-me-not appearance, the general effect of the room will chill the visitor. The appearance of the room should be that of one used daily. The drapery about the windows should not be such as to shut out the light, but simply to tone down the glare. If the carpet is good, a fair amount of light will not hurt it, and a room that is always closed and dark, except when "company" comes, is sure to be musty, uncomfortable and unhealthful. If you cannot study out effects yourself, call in the aid of some one who has an eye for effect, and can produce like ones without copying. Observe effects in other houses, or take the advice of your upholsterer, always reserving to yourself the casting vote, as to how much you can afford to spend upon any particular room or object. XIII. House-Cleaning.
In house-cleaning you will save yourself and family much inconvenience, by not undertaking too much at once. Clean one room or one set of rooms at a time, and observe order in so doing. If your house is to be kalsomined or papered, this should be done first. House-cleaning is a time of severe labor, and any arrangement that will lighten the labor should be observed. Thus, the carpets may be taken up to be cleaned by the men, who may also kalsomine the walls. This will materially lighten the labor of the women. Many housewives prefer to hire extra labor, and this is decidedly the better way.
XIV. Sweeping and Dusting. -Renovating Carpets.
CARPETS should be brushed over at least once a day, and thoroughly swept once a week, when every movable piece of furniture should be moved. These should be thoroughly wiped or dusted every time the broom is used. If the carpet becomes dingy, it should be wiped with a damp sponge, and dried with clean flannel cloths. If there are grease-spots, they may be taken out by thoroughly pounding and mixing together equal parts of magnesia and fuller's earth. Make this into a paste with boiling water, lay it over the grease-spot, hot, and by the following day it will have absorbed the grease; it may then be scraped and brushed off. If, unfortunately, grease or oil has been spilled on the carpet, it should be taken out, if possible, before that is again swept. Ordinary stains may usually be removed with lemonjuice or dilute oxalic acid.