Ladies Column.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1629, 5 October 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Oilcloth.

A good Ber?ioeable oiloloth ia the best kind of covering for the kitchen floor, and it oan, with but little effort and strength, bo kept in excellent aoadicioa, and U <&a aleo tie as e&Bily destroyed with improper care. A few bad washings will do more harm than can ever be remedied, therefore it is especially important that the oiloloth bo washed pr operly. If you would have your oilcloth looking cle»"n and bright, never use a. mop when wa ing it, as this is sure to leave it grimy and streaky. Have a pail of clean, lukewarm water or milk and water, and use two clean flumel cloths, one for a wash oloth and one to wipe with. Go over the whole eurfece of the oilcloth, washing a gmall spao c at a time, and drying it thoroughly. When dried well, warm some linseed oil and with a eoft oloth rub it over tho oiloloth, using a very little oil end rubbing it ia well. This will improve the appearance of the carpet wonderfully. If linseed oil is not convenient, kerosene may bo used, bus the linseed is muoh the better for this pur pose. Equal quantities of beeswax and linseed oil melted together is used by many as a good dressing • for oilcloth, applying it the same as the plain oil, a little at a. time.

Sometimes a painted carpet that has boen neglected will have a grimy look, owing to bad washings not' removing tho dust that is sure to settle in the corrugated enrfaoe, and in such a case it is next to impossible to improve it 3 appearance without the use of a brush. A soJt brush and some purs white soap will do all that can be dona to remove the grime. As a general thing a brash or eoap ia nofi to ba catnmGuded for cleaning oiloloHa, but if used only onoe a month ihey will do no harm, but keep the oilcloth dear of grime. Never use ammonia in the water for washing oilcloth, as it will euroly remove the gIoBS. Auhougk many housewives use r. broom for sweeping a painted carpet, ifc is a_ poor plan, aa a long-handled bristled brush is tho only thing for this purpose. The oorn broom is too stiff, bs it is euro in a short time to soratoh'off the paint, neither does it do tho work well, for ii cannot get into tha cravioee to remove the dust. After Bweepiag, theoiloloth may bo made to iook much brighter ii dusted with a clean oloth. Put a Bof t, dry cloth into a long-handled mop and f o over tha whole surface of tho oiloloth, thaking the mop cloth frequently to remove any dusc that adheres to it while using. This will improve the appearance of the carpet very muoh.

Once a year the carpet Bhould be varnished, and it will last much longer and wear better. TJae sora^ good whits varni=.fa» and with a flsvt bsuiAi ga «w«s the cnxfaea o! thecarcet, aeicg GdJy a litila v&vaish&t ctte time, as* it dries very quickly and ia Lard to work whoa mnoh used. Work the varnish in smoothly and quickly, sad when all is done let the caipofc remain for a day at least, to dry thoroughly before walking on it. This will make a much worn oarpct present a very respectable appearance.