HANDYMAN’S CORNER

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 272, 12 August 1932, Page 6

HANDYMAN’S CORNER

Inquiries on home design, building, and furnishing problems are intuited by Handyman, who will answer them to the best of his ability in this corner. Letters should bo addressed to "Handyman," Home Section, “The Dominion,” and it must be understood that none will be answered by mall. Handy home hints from renders will be welcomed. MOSS GROWING ON TILES “Lower Hutt” writes: Can you tell me of any means by which I can remove the green moss, etc., growing on a Marseilles tiled roof? Any information would be most welcome. A method probably as effective as any would be to wash the tiles down with a spirits of salts solution—about one part of spirits to 14 parte of water. The solution should be swabbed on in such a manner that the hands do not edme in contact with the liquid. Incidentally the presence of moss on the tiles is a sign of dampness which should be investigated, and, 1 if possible, remedied. CLEANING KITCHEN WALL “Calcimd” writes: I have put Calcimo on my kitchen for three successive years, but on the last occasion it was not quite successful as the. new application caused the old coats to pull off when applying. It Is now blistering, this presumably being caused ,by the steam from cooking, and I propose to clean off all old coats before renfewing. Can you help me by advising in your notes the best and easiest way to clean off old applications? Clearly the trouble is due to the deterioration of the old coats and the consequent inability of the last coat to grip a permanent surface. You do not state the nature of the walls, therefore it ig difficult to be precise about the treatment. Assuming, however, that the walls . are washable, the old coats should be washed off with a strong soda solution plus a little ammonia. When the walls are elean and dry apply a coat of good wall aiae. The surface is then ready for the final application which should cling as firmly as ever.

TO RENOVATE BIANDS “Thrifty,” Wellington, writes: Is it possible to stain or in atiy. way renovate roller blinds. Though the material in my set seems in good condition, the blinds are badly faded and look unsightly. Though Handyman has never experimented personally, he is told that roller blinds can be stained or dyed in quite satisfactory fashion with hat dye. Hie informant states:—“Blinds made of linen will take hat dye very well. On a table covered with paper fold the blind three or four times, and putting a little of the dye into a shallow dish or tin (navy is the best colour) paint the blind quickly across, beginning at the bottom. It will soak right through to the folds, and the blind may be opened up afterwards to see that the colour is evenly distributed. A bottle ari3 a half will be required to do each blind, and if they are hung up as soon as finished they will dry quickly, and be found satisfactory.