330 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



torn; or to be mixed with other washings. Also the clothes are out of 

 use for one week. But the greatest objection is that not all the clothing 

 is sterilized. Another method of managing the laundry work is to send 

 it out to a washerwoman. This has some of the same disadvantages 

 as the steam laundry except that it is less expensive. The clothes are 

 often not properly washed and rinsed so that they are returned looking 

 grimy, often scorched in places and not properly sterilized. So as far 

 as results are concerned, the washerwoman is often worse than the 

 laundry. Some housewives avoid these difficulties by hiring the work 

 ■done at home. So far as desirable results are concerned, this is prob- 

 ably better than either of the previously mentioned methods. However, 

 the method used by many housekeepers and especially those who live 

 ■on the farm, is to do it themselves. 



The aim in the laundry room exhibit has been to show how the 

 equipment already found in most homes, can, with a very small addi- 

 tional expense, be arranged more conveniently. 



This room could be one in the basement with cement floor and 

 walls, or what we more often find, a part of the woodshed or an unused 

 room near the kitchen. Almost every house has a different problem so 

 the exhibit here is only suggestive. You will have to adapt it to your 

 own home. It would be advisable to have it shut off from the rest of the 

 house as much as possible, so that the heat and steam will not reach 

 other parts. If the house has plumbing connections, nearness to these 

 would be considered in planning the room. Another point to consider 

 is ease of access to the back yard. If the house has a side door rather 

 than a back door, this makes extra steps in carrying the clothes to and 

 from the line. The room used for the exhibit is as small as possible 

 and yet have a place for everything. There is usually only one person 

 who does the washing. However, two could work in this room without 

 getting in each other's way. The windows are arranged so that light is 

 admitted from two sides. The ironing table, ironing board and rinsing 

 tubs are placed so as to secure good light. 



The walls are covered with a tile design of Sanitas, w'hich is an oil 

 €loth hung like wall paper. A smooth painted wall would also be good. 



Inlaid linoleum makes a durable and easily cleaned floor where 

 cement cannot be used. 



The hardest work of wash day is the carrying of water to the 

 tubs and carrying it out again. Another disagreeable feature is the 

 carrying of clothes from one tub to another and thus dripping water 

 over the floor. It is gratifying to know that every year more farm 

 houses are having water systems installed. However, if there is not 

 water in the house, with small expense a cistern pump can be put in 



