RENOVATED WALL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 29, 28 October 1932, Page 6

RENOVATED WALL

Compound for Cleaning' Soiled Paper > HOW TO GO ABOUT IT Frequent dusting will keep wall paper looking fresh longer than it otherwise would, but when It becomes actually soiled, a cleaning is called for. Often it can be made to look almost like new if cleaned with wall, paper cleaner, a doughlike compound which removes the surface dirt. This can be bought as cheaply as one can make it, but if not easily obtainable, it may be made at home. The following formula is a good one:— Mix together one tablespoonful of salt, one tablespoonful of kerosene, two tablespoonsful of vinegar, two tablespoonsful of ammonia, and half of a cupful of warm water, and into this stir one cupful of dour. Cook this well, stirring constantly. Remove from the fire, and as soon as it begins to cool knead it with the hands as one would knead dough, until it has the consistency of soft rubber. To use, draw’ it over the wall paper, always in one direction to avoid streaks, in the same, manner as fan eraser. The dirt will come off on the cleaner. Work the dough so that a fresh surface is presented, and continue. Do not rub; use it as lightly as possible. Do not let the hands touch the wall paper. If only a small area on the wall paper has become soiled, a cleaner not so effective nor so easy to use but which will serve the purpose, can be made in a moment by removing the inside soft part from a fresh loaf of bread and sprinkling it with enough household ammonia so it can bo worked into a soft ball, using it in the same manner as explained above. Any small spots, except grease spots, can be removed with a soft “soap” eraser, purchased at a stationer’s. To remove grease spots, cover them with a stiff, almost dry, paste made of water, and whiting or French chalk or magnesia, or, sometimes, talcum powder, leaving it on for 21 hours. Brush it off and if the spots have not disappeared apply the paste again, lay over it a piece of blotting paper and over that a warm flatiron. The heat usually will draw- but the grease info the powder. Before applying cleaning agents to any wall, whether covered wall paper, calcimine, or paint, it should be very thoroughly dusted. Otherwise the cleaner will smear all the free dust over the wall, making double work and often resulting in an unsuccessful job of cleaning. ’ ' ■