CLEANSING, DECORATING, AND REPAIRING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 217, 11 September 1907, Page 8

CLEANSING, DECORATING, AND REPAIRING.

' ; ; ' ' . . (By A. X N.).V'"' , ' ; ; ■■?. OIL-CiiO^aT FLOORS. " : I have learned 'to put down oilcloth on -hardwood floors'without the iise of tacks. _For the kiixshenrl made a paste of flour, and -water, cooking it> as I do flour-starch, some thicker. -I/put down, the oil-cloth," - then spread the f paste aiound- the "edge about an inch'in width. Press it ". d6wnr-it will hold; fast. Strips can be, put -together iiil the -same Way. l< put: down rugs- in bath rbom. in this way. '' Matting: can also be put-down in tTiis-.'way,\taken up..and any injury^to rtig or floor. - v".; V CRACKS,"IX FLOORS.-: !. . .. Soak newspapV.-s in a. paste of ha3f a pound-of flour, , half a pouid- of alaia, and three quarts of water, mixed together and boilerl. This mixture, .which should be 'a s thiok as putty,-'may be forced; into-, cracks, in floors, walnscottiag, etc., with a'case" knifed It hardens I bke papier-mache; l , neatly: and' permaii: ently-filling any "cracksi to'which it ;tuay be applied. '■ '' ■' v-~ ■.••■;. • ■ •'■:. ;•.■-*• \ TO CLEAN-KITXDHEN Wall or: ceiling's 'papered ,with.;oil "cloih l>u,t on a.wash bpjlei .of .water and.close doors" and w.indows,- and boil :the w-ater until: walls , and ceiling: are wet with steam; Take a Ibrig-handled" brush prbrbom; vtie a .soft rag and wipe your walls. This will save lots of time and trouble. : - ■ " ■ • '•• ■,: ,' .\ ; ;'. ; CALCIMINING.' . " v ' :• > I have found. that when ■■ you: cannot afford to bave:a • decorator you can [calcimine .your rooms-yourself with little expense. .Wash:off; the old calcimine, fill in -any; little holes or cracks with plaster of paris;' when dry paint over the places, narit-h shellac. Then the walls are ready. 1.-have 'been. most .J successful with the mixed > cplPurs —; -you 'need .only add water. A light blue room with a white ceiling or light green with, still lighter shade. for; ceib'ng have been -admired in our - house. : You' 'can-cadd a border of paper between the picture moulding ;and ceiling, which makes another pretty room. - The.'rpbms. lppk'as pretty as vif you- had -spent several dollars on them. : - . POCKETS ;IN- APRONS. ; The busy housewife - ghould put large pockets in -her kitchen apron. She could put picked-tip articles , in her 1 pockets as she goes from room to room, and. then put- them in theii; proper places on. going upstairs.- ■ -■■;';■ .i" ; :■ :• •■'-■■.- . ■:...-..,•.;.:.; ANIEYE-'Sivilß.";-; .'■ : \! : Keep a good magnifying, glass in. the sewing machine;drawer, and : eee"how■ it eaves the eyes. Teh almost invisible n'unibere on^the-needles are-.easily read, and in starting a -popL of -fine; silk r 6r thread the-glass- will ehow'when thei'end'is fastened to spool. ' v

KEEP OUT DUST. a piece of cheesecloth over the screen in your pantry window," ana , see now much dust" you can. keep out; wash the-.cloth'when needed. -•.-'. -j .. ■ ■ . KITOffIEK FLOORS. - • "V.X you wish .fo^.cover:your ifloor- with. 5 linoleum, arid / tne Doaras are warped, ; fill.the uneven places with'sand and youi 1 linoleum will not become-worn. r _-.•.-. '.■.•; ■" - ! ■ . :•■- ■ <:,■■■' : ' - •■--■ ; ' JO.: CLEAN MAHOGANY. ■ I ~;' Simplest ;and "best"' way. is. to< tajra warm: water and soft" cloth,i dampen the cloth well and rub on a -white soap, mak- ' 5 ing a; good lather; ,this." rub "freely over the article to be'cleaned, , 'and'at -onea '• iwipe off and dry with'soft cloth; , -The j result-is superior to that secured witU '. any polish and more' lasting. Same ' gives: the best and most .lasting"polish; r . .to patent.leather shoes./ ■•..: ... '■■'■'._ '■ ,yO TO REMOVE BRUISESV /"'■. t from furniture, wet the bruised spots/ ,-• with :wa'rm.water, soak a.piece- of brown : 'paper :of several ; ; thicknesses ■'• in warni y water, and lay over the : place." Then apply- a Warm ■ flat .iron, until -moisture* is gone._■ Kepeat the process if-needful^ I and the bruise will disappear.* - . ■ \ ' SAVE-ALL BOXES, • • in" which suits and coats are sent- home. i Lay your "nicely ,; laundered .lingerie I waists away* in* these boxes, first putting . some ' tissue "paper in the sleeves.- You i will ifind them" without wrinkles: whea j you are ready : to put tfcein on./and as ■ dainty as when''first - laundered.":.- Linen i waists' of a heavier-quality 'may he >' kept on coat hangers. .' ■ •-... '. •• • .; ... ■ '" ■'■"' MENDING ';' i . I . When mending curtains; cover •. your ! ironing board or table: with .whatever !. black material you happen to-havei,/and: i. let •■ your - -curtains '"f all rover 'it. Every,' i hele easily-can ; be'seenr----' '-- i: -- *■■■•; ' PIANO KEYS. - , - Clean: piano, keys, with milk.; ."- . ■ ' : , BEATING: BLANKETS. \ r • • After blanketsiave been washed -and ■. hung on the line and. thoroughly dry, •;• beat them with "a' carpet '■'■ The . 'wool: will become light aid 1 eofi, 'and i. blanket like "new. -• ■■;■■-■ *" - k : :■■• TABING UP CAEPETiS; ? [■ To prevent the usual cloud, of-.dust . when removing a carpet, the. I tacks, picking them all up .when ', drawn, wJiich will prevent accidents, and take ! only a- few minutes -of - time." not wove the edge of-the carpjet untilva'l ! '■ /the j- tacks.,.iave ..been removed; then ', begin at; one .side -and, .carpet' '.. : o^r/^ejpii4^.)TOp'au'' : '', . Two or. three jersons-can roll it. better ; \. than one alone. Lift it .carefully a* ' both, ends and, the; middle at the same ' time, carry-it out of t'oors, and away from, the house, to be cleaned. - aft - '~ 9ne.. side of the room again arid roll ' papers with" the -dust ; on them,', taking onlya few at;a time, and being, carefulriot to , disturb the-dust.- • Carry- .the rolls out as they, are. made-,":'and pile ' them on. .the ground, where; they can be turned. When the papers all hai'a beenVremoved -there^will: be .no dust;on •; the floor or in the air, and a mopping oi • the; floor with.a clean -mop- and good, suds will] riiake it' fresh." If there were I no .'•nnder" *th*e". carpet the' tacks ' -and -carpet should/be./reißoved in ths x V^.me;manner-, and-a, lot-of .btte ••f/newß- . pajier'.. well dampened should "be '• gently scattered 'over;: the jiusty flopr. St»----r gently ■ the i Bits ..of 'wet paper about with a fcropm so as to gather the dust; theii, take it "up'in little'piles dnr tiie.;dusv; pan. .Scatter-another, lot'ol:,:the;dariip« enedpaper and sweep it gently't6gether t then mop the. floor with good suds. .' .