Household Dust by MRS. D. A. FITCH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 18, 1915

Household Dust

By MRS. D. A. FITCH

MRS. D. A. FITCH

THERE are few parts of everyday housekeeping, or rather housework, more inimical to health than is sweeping. It might not be so could all the dirt remain on the floor; but it does not. Quite a share of the worst part ascends into the air, to be taken into the respiratory organs, to lodge on furniture, tables, food, and clothing. In the process of dusting the furniture the dust is again disturbed, and is breathed, while that on the food will probably be swallowed.

By proper methods much of this danger might be avoided. One woman is of the opinion that when dealing with bare floors, it is well to carefully draw the coarse dirt together with a dampened broom, and then use an extra amount of water in mopping up the fine dust. Almost any way to keep the dust from flying about to be breathed!

Carpets gather and retain a great deal of dust, with its millions of microbes of myriad sorts. Every movement on a carpet sets the dust to flying, and especially does it fly when the broom is being used in the hands of an energetic housewife.

Carpet sweepers are a decided improvement over the broom; but if the latter must be used, the breathing of much of the dust may be avoided by using the broom in such a way as not to throw the dust into the air. Notice the difference in methods of sweeping. One woman will stand behind her broom and send the dust and dirt into the air at a furious rate; while her more tidy neighbor will draw the broom behind her, allowing it to rest on the débris an instant, thus hindering the free circulation of dust, with all its dangers.

It is well to have carpets laid in such a way that the prevailing wind will take the most of the dust through an outside door rather than into the kitchen. The nap of the carpet will decide this matter for you.

After the sweeping is done, it brightens the carpet wonderfully, and removes much dust, to wet the broom in a solution of salt water and wipe the carpet carefully, occasionally washing out the broom to remove the collected dust.

Glendale, Cal.