How to keep the house clean?
First of all, it is important to avoid bringing dirt into living spaces from the yard (this applies to private houses. – Ed.). To do this, a scraper should be placed at the entrance, where visitors can clean their shoes of dirt. A mat should be placed in the hallway. Here, all residents should leave their outerwear, as well as dirty or wet shoes. Accumulation of items often leads to clutter and pollution in the apartment. Therefore, all unnecessary items should be stored in a pantry or another non-living space. It is recommended to clean the apartment daily; otherwise, a lot of dust can accumulate, settling on the floor, furniture, and belongings. The air in the room is constantly moving and lifts dust, which people inhale. This can negatively affect health. Dust often causes throat and lung diseases.
The floors should be washed at least once or twice a week. A damp cloth should be used to wipe not only visible items but also dark corners, as well as places behind and under furniture. Cabinets, chests, and buffets that are difficult to move during cleaning should be placed on legs or wooden pads, slightly away from the wall. The floor brush should be wrapped in a damp cloth, and the broom should be slightly moistened with water. Otherwise, the dust will only be moved from place to place, rather than removed from the room. The walls of a log house should be washed with warm water and soap several times a year.
Convenience in the Kitchen
The kitchen is a space where the hostess spends a significant amount of time. Therefore, it is important to carefully plan its layout and correctly arrange the kitchen equipment. The sizes of the kitchen can vary. If the kitchen is used solely for cooking, an area of 5 sq. m is sufficient, but if it also serves as a dining area, about 12 sq. m will be needed. The main elements of kitchen equipment are the work surface, sink, and stove. For convenience, the work surface should be about 85 cm high, with the lower part designed as a cabinet with shelves and drawers under the countertop. A pull-out board can be placed under the drawers, allowing for seated work.
It is convenient to make the sink in the form of a cabinet. Above the sink, it is good to install a wall-mounted drying cabinet with a slatted bottom, through which water from the dishes will drain back into the sink. Partitions that rest against the edge of the window opening or doors that are flush against the partition or wall spoil the appearance of the room. In such cases, it is necessary to leave at least 10-15 cm from the edge.
Recommendation
To combat flies entering the rooms, sticky paper and paper soaked in arsenic solution (the so-called “flypaper”) are used. This paper can be made at home. A sheet of “flypaper” is placed on a plate and lightly moistened with sweetened water. “Flypaper” is poisonous, so it should not be used in the kitchen or in families with small children. Used sheets of “flypaper” and dead flies are recommended to be burned.
Secrets of Lighting
Sunlight plays an important role in health. It improves well-being and increases productivity. A lack of sunlight can contribute to the development of diseases such as anemia and rickets in children. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure access to sunlight in the home throughout the day – do not place large flowers and other items on windowsills, and remember to open the curtains in the morning. In summer, windows should be kept open longer, as glass almost does not transmit ultraviolet rays, which positively affect the body. Opening windows is also important for good ventilation. In cold weather, it is necessary to open the windows several times a day. Proper lighting helps preserve vision. If there are schoolchildren in the family, the study table should be positioned by the window so that daylight falls from the left side. The lamp during evening studies should also be placed on the left. A lampshade is essential to protect the eyes from direct light. Dirty, dusty windows block almost half of the sunlight, so it is necessary to constantly take care of the cleanliness of the windows.
By the way
Windows can be cleaned as follows: apply a mixture of chalk diluted in water, rinse with warm water, let dry, and then wipe with a clean, dry cloth. To prevent windows from fogging in winter, a glass with a moisture-absorbing material – dry peat, charcoal, sawdust, or a small amount of sulfuric acid – can be placed. It is not recommended to cover windows with heavy curtains.
