The major concern of this unit is to discuss the maintenance of common domestic appliances. The methods used include cleaning, dusting, washing, oiling and replacement of damaged parts. The electronic appliances used are to be handled with care because they are fragile and costly. Users should be familiar with the contents of the manufacturer’s manual concerning the handling and maintenance of such appliances. Examples are radio, television, refrigerator, fan, etc.
Kitchen utensils also need to be maintained. They should be cleaned constantly and kept dry. Furniture items should be dusted while machines should be oiled regularly.
Maintenance of Furniture
- Tables
A table is a piece of furniture with a flat top, which can be oval, rectangular, round or may take any other shape. The commonest shape is the rectangular shape. A table top can be made of plastic laminates, metal, formica, finished wood or may even be padded.
A table has one or more legs, but tables with four legs are more common. It is usual to see tables with iron legs and sheet metal tops or made of plastic. The tables made completely of wood are very common. If a table is made of wood, it is important to emphasize that the wood must be well seasoned; that is, the excess moisture in the wood must have been dried out. If the wood is not properly seasoned, the table can easily become warp and the drawers become shabby. Since most of our homes have tables made of seasoned wood and finished tops, attention will be given more to tables made of wood I this discussion.
- Uses
Tables are used for various purposes. In our homes, they are used for writing, for dining, for keeping various articles and ornaments. They are also used in schools, hospitals shops and so on, for doing different kinds of work. Tables are also used for decorating homes to provide comfort, e.g. sitting rooms and dining areas.
- Care
The care of a table depends upon the material used in making the table. If the table is made of plastic, dusting and cleaning with damp cloth and drying properly is enough. If made of metal, dusting properly everyday is sufficient. But tables made of finished wood, that is, varnished, painted or polished, need a little more attention.
- Varnished Table
- Dust carefully
- Wash, using warm water and a soft cloth. Add one table spoonful of paraffin per litre of water
- Wash in such a way as to avoid water marks
- Dry thoroughly and polish with a clean soft duster.
- Painted Wood Table
- Dust thoroughly
- Wash carefully with warm, slightly soapy water
- Remove dirty marks with fine whiting
- Rinse and dry well e. Rub up with a clean soft duster.
III. Polished Wood Table
This wood is noted for its texture and fine grains, (e.g. Mahogany). Tables made of cheaper wood are given a thin covering of thin line wood (known as veneer)
- Care of Polished Wood
- Avoid heat, which softens and removes the polish and causes white heat marks.
- Avoid the use of abrasives or harsh cleaners, as they will scratch the polished surface.
- Avoid spilling water, perfumes or medicine on polished wood as they remove the polish.
- Cleaning of Polished Wood
- Dust well and rub with a soft clean duster.
- Wash only if the table is very dirty but with great care.
- Cleaning with a soft cloth dipped in warm water with a table spoonful of vinegar in 4 litres of water.
- Wipe well over the surface. This removes greasy finger marks and so on.
- Dry very well and polish with a soft cloth duster.
- You may apply very little furniture cream with a cloth and rob it thoroughly into the wood.
- Polish with two soft dusters, first rubbing with circular motions with and duster and finally along the grain with the other clean duster.
- Formica-Topped Table
This type of table is very common in homes nowadays because of the ease in cleaning and care.
To care for formica-topped tables, always clean properly with a damp cloth and dry with a clean top. If oily, use a cloth from soapy water and clean properly, then dry very well. Do not scrape off any particle that sticks fast on the table rather soak with water and rub off. Do not put very hot items on the table. Put hot foot on the table mat.
- Chairs (Different Kinds of Chairs)
The simplest definition of a chair is a seat for one person. A chair is a seat with one or more legs, a back, and sometimes, arms. The chair has a very long history. This found in the furniture of furniture development. In the fifteenth century, chairs were a symbol of authority used by kings and nobles, and ministers in the church.
In courts, only kings sat on chairs, nobles sat on stools. A chair is usually made of seasoned wood, iron, cane or of recent, plastics.
Chairs are made from different designs. Some hairs are carved from wood (e.g. awka craved chairs). Some chairs have a central rod upon which their seats revolve. Most barbers’ chairs and some executive chairs in offices are like that.
Chairs
- Beds
A bed is a framework made of wood or iron, of late, a combination or iron and wood. It is complemented with a mattress to provide comfort. When a bed is made of wood, it is usually a well seasoned hard wood, e.g. Iroko. If made of iron or brass other metals are used to coat it in order to provide a shiny exterior.
Bed
To provide comfort, spring and foam mattresses are recommended. Such bed should have a felt or hessian underlay between the metal spring and the mattress to prevent rust marks. The pillow should be moderately full enough, if too full, it will be hard and if not full enough, it will be flat and uncomfortable. A bed should have a sheet and a blanket. The sheet could be linen and cotton. A mixture of nylon and cotton is very common nowadays. The blanket should be light, not heavy; could be all wool, or a mixture of wool and other fibres. Beds come in different sizes.
The common sizes seen in the markets are:
| Cot Size | 60 x 120cm |
| Bunk or divan bed | 75 x 190cm |
| Single bed | 90 x 190cm |
| Three-quarter bed | 100 or 120 x 190cm |
| Double bed | 140 x 190cm |
- Pots
The most common household pots are aluminium pots of various shapes and sizes.
Most cooking utensils are made of aluminium. In most homes, large aluminium pots are used for storing water. Enamel pots are used in some homes. Other types are cast-ironpots, tin pots and earthen pots.
- Uses of Pots
Pots are used mostly for cooking. Large ones are also used for storing water. Cas iron pots are used for frying garri and plantains in commercial quantities.
- Care of Aluminium Pots
Care should be taken to avoid scratching the surface. This can be cause by metal scourers or putting aluminium away without drying. New utensils should be boiled out for ten minutes adding a teaspoonful of boraz to half a litre of water. This prevents the formation of discoloration due to minerals in the water. After use, aluminium pot should be cleaned with a nylon scourer with fine abrasive powder or paste or pad of fine steel wool softened with soap. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly. Always avoid the use of soda.
iii. Enamel
Enamel utensils should be washed after use. If necessary, use an abrasive paste or fine powder. Rinse and dry thoroughly before putting away.
- Tin Utensils
Fill with water, add a little soda and allow to boil on a hot plate for a few minutes. Pour a way, wash and dry thoroughly. In case of cake tins, wipe with a damp cloth. After use, dry well before putting away in a dry storage place.
- Cutlery
The cutlery on our table usually consists of spoons, knives, fork and so on. They come in various sizes. For example, spoons comprise tablespoon, dessertspoon, teaspoon; knives comprise table knife; and fork consists of table fork, desert fork. Different metals are used to make cutlery. They vary from the very cheap ones made of aluminium to the expensive ones which are usually electroplated with material such a s nickel, chromium and gold to prevent corrosion and provide a shiny exterior used for storing water. Cast iron pots are used for frying garri and plantains in commercial quantities. Earthen pots are used for storing water and for fermenting cassava.
Care of Cutlery
Cutlery should be stored in such a way that it is easy to reach. It should be stored each in its own pile, for tidiness, easy selection and to avoid scratching. The drawer should be lined with hardwearing fabric e.g. green baize, and covered properly. Solid silver needs constant polishing because it tarnishes easily and should be cleaned with wood-ash and lime, lemon or silver dip.
It should be rinsed in warm soapy water, dried properly and polished with dry starch in order to retain the shiny appearance. Stainless steel cutlery is cleaned with common abrasive powder and dried with clean cloth.
- Crockery
Crockery is the term given to plates, cups and dishes in the house made of baked clay, usually referred to as ‘chinaware’. The first white porcelain was made in China, hence the name ‘chinaware’. The name ‘china’ is loosely used to cover not only porcelain which is made from fine white clay (china clay or kaolin), but also earthenware made form coarse clays. Porcelain is more expensive than earthenware. It is stronger. It is translucent and takes a fine glaze.
Earthenware:
Impurities in clay give rise to different texture and colours. Special treatment in the process of manufacture produces earthenware which is good for the oven.
Care of Crockery
Scrape and rinse after use. If necessary soak, then wash in hot salty water. Rinse in hot. Dry with lintless cloth, if necessary. Special stains in the tea or coffee cups may be removed by rubbing with a little salt or baking soda.
Caution: Avoid alkalis and coarse abrasives. Use mild detergent only. Handle chainware very gently. Do not drop or knock against hard objects. Generally wash in plastic bowl with foam plastic mat, drain on folded cloth or plastic.
- Enamel Pots and Dishes
For those who cannot afford chainware, enamel plates and dishes are equally good for serving food. They are cheaper and more durable. We should avoid washing them with coarse abrasives or metal scourer, High heat should be avoided, which may raze or crack the enamel. Handle gently to avoid chipping.
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