THE CALL OF SPRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 17

THE CALL OF SPRING.

TO CLEAN FURNITURE.

Where a vacuum cleaner is available tho spring cleaning of upholstered furniture is not a heavy task, for the dust will have been regularly removed whenever tho suction nozzle has been passed over tho chairs and chesterfield. Beating is the next best way of extracting the dust, and it need not be too dirty a business if the furniture is taken into tho garden 011 a fine day and each chair is covered with a dust-sheet that has been wrung out of clean cold water. Put tho .damp sheet through the wringer to extract all superfluous moisture, and then spread it over the furniture before beating with a light, and Ihwible cane beater. Tho sheet will collect the dust as it rises and at the same time freshen the surface of the covers. If much dust comes out several clean sheets will be required. An upholstery brush will work wonders with a nap fabric such as plush or velvet, and a velvet pad will remove fluff that lias worked through from the stuffing of the chairs. A very soft brush is necessary for brocade or silk' upholstery, and care should be taken to brush gently with the warp of the material. A "dry scrub'" is an effective means of cleaning dirty upholstery. But it must be really "dry." If water is allowed to soak through, it will be a difficult matter to dry out the stuffing again. Take half a cup of lux and a quart of hot water. Let the mixture stand till it jellies. Then to a pint of water 111 a bowl add half a cup of jelly and whisk it up into a shampoo like lather. Take a clean nailbrush and take off the top "dry suds." Use it on a small area, then wring a soft rubber very dry from warm water and remove tho soap. Wipe it off the material, do not wipe in. If this is done carefully the material will be cleaned without being niado damp and will not bo left in any way sticky. After cleaning smooth the pile, if necessary, using a soft clean brush for tho purpose. This treatment will clean and revive a suite most effectively and spots that remain should be removed with carbon tetrachloride. L : se on a cloan cloth with a circular movement.