38 THE VANCOUVER BRIDE
CARE OF BROOMS AND BRUSHES

Dry brushes slowly, preferably out of doors, for heat impairs their

efficiency.

Use moderately warm soapy water for cleaning brushes, and avoid the
use of soda or strong soap powder.

Rinse them in plenty of cold water; this stiffens the bristles that are
somewhat softened by the washing process.

Wash all household brushes whenever they are soiled, rather than at
definite intervals; unnecessary washing should be avoided.

Soak new brushes and brooms in cold water for several hours before us-
ing them; this prevents the bristles from breaking and falling out.

Provide each brush with a loop or string so that immediately after use
it can be hung up.

A long handled broom should never be allowed to stand on its bristles.
Either hang it up or stand upside down.

When a whisk is worn beyond further use for clothes, do not throw it
away. It will make a splendid stiff brush for the sink if cut off squarely.

Scrubbing brushes get very sour and evil smelling if put away after
using. A hook outside the house in a sunny spot is a good place from which
they may be hung and dried in a sanitary manner before they are put away.

Never sweep with the same side of the broom, as it soon gets flat at one
corner and worn to a sharp point at the other. The straws then strike the
floor not with the tips but with the flat of the broom. If wielded both ways,
it keeps its shape and sweeps straight.

When a broom begins to wear down so that it has no flexibility we
would recommend this treatment. Cut the lowest row of stitching that holds
the straws in place, then take a sharp scissors and carefully clip the bottom
of the straws so that all the broken, bent ends are cut off, and a square edge
is obtained. A broom treated in this manner is good for many extra weeks
of service.

ABOUT PICTURE HANGING

Never overcrowd your pictures. Remember that space is needed to
show off their beauty and one good picture is worth a dozen poor ones.

Do not mix your pictures up anyhow; water colors, oils, and engravings
hung up haphazardly are a deplorable sight.

Do not mix types of frames either. Elaborately adorned frames are
always wrong.

Have gilt frames for your water colors and color prints, with gilt or
ivory, but never dead white mounts. Never glaze or cut the margin of color
prints. It kills their value.

Deep gilt frames should be used for oil paintings, and oak frames with an
inner line of gilt and a wide white mount for engravings.

Etchings should have narrow black frames and cream or white mounts.

When hanging your pictures you must consider the background. Plain
wall-papers or distemper make the best background for pictures. Grey,
green or brown being particularly good. Oval pictures are best on striped

paper. ;