Kitchen Sinks 213 



aljle ; or of wood, lined with lead, zinc, copper 

 or slate, all of which are more or less unde- 

 sirable, because after some use, the water and 

 filth is apt to get in between the wood and its 

 covering, or because they are not durable. The 

 sink should have as little woodwork about it as 

 possible, since wood is porous and, therefore, 

 collects filth. It should be set open on brackets, 

 and not over a dark, moist, dirt- collecting, 

 back-breaking closet. Flushing is especially im- 

 portant in the case of the kitchen sink because 

 of the grease. The best plumbing provides a 

 grease -trap outside the house, which may be 

 easily cleaned; but whether outside or immedi- 

 ately beneath the sink, the trap should have a 

 screw- plug, so that it may be frequently cleaned. 

 It follows that the kitchen waste pipe should not 

 be too large, should have a good incline, and if 

 possible no abrupt curves, so that cooling grease 

 in the water may not harden on the sides of the 

 pipe and finally fill it up. The use of a cheap 

 wire screen garbage basket in the sink will pre- 

 vent the small particles of waste from passing 

 down the pipe. 



Bath-tubs of white earthenware or " por- 

 celain" are the most expensive, the most dur- 

 able and very heavy ; of white enameled iron, 

 are less expensive and heavy, durable if care- 

 fully used, impervious and cleanly ; those of 



