The same treatment accorded the kitchen in decoration and care must be
bestowed also upon the pantry, which should be dry and well ventilated.
After a thorough scrubbing with soap and water, with the aid of a dish
mop rinse the shelves with boiling water, dry carefully, and cover with
plain white paper, using the ornamental shelf paper for the edges.
White table oilcloth makes a good covering, and comes specially
prepared with a fancy border for that purpose. The convenient pantry
is equipped with both shelves and drawers, the latter to contain the
neatly folded piles of dish, glass, and hand towels, cheesecloth
dusters, holders, and cleaning cloths. There are usually four shelves,
the top one being reserved for articles of infrequent use. On the
others are arranged the kitchen dishes, pans, and all utensils which do
not hang, together with jars and cans containing food. Leave nothing
in paper bags or boxes to attract insects, soil the shelves, and give a
disorderly appearance to an otherwise tidy pantry. Glass fruit jars
are desirable repositories for small dry groceries--tea, coffee, rice,
tapioca, raisins, currants, and the like--though very dainty and
serviceable covered porcelain jars in blue and white are made
especially for this purpose, those of medium size costing 25 cents
each, the smaller ones less, the larger more. Jars or cans of japanned
tin, designed for like use, are less expensive, but also less
attractive, and in the course of time are liable to rust, particularly
in summer, or where the climate is at all damp. The shelves should be
wiped off and regulated once a week, and crockery and utensils kept as
bright and shining as plenty of soap and hot water can make them. The
pantry requires special care during the summer, when dust and flies are
prone to corrupt its spotlessness. A wall pocket hung on the door will
be found a convenient dropping place for twine, scissors, and papers.