Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1906, Page 33

Domestic

By ' Maureen "

Spring Cleaning. Furniture becomes dull, not necessarily from- wear and tear, but from the action of gases whicli ' are in the air at tall times. This dulness, as ™ell as scratches, bruises and like spots, may be done away with. In cleansing the solid wo 0 d pieces, mahogany chairs, walnut tables, oak sideboards, or any of the hard woods that have either a shiny, highly polished or dull surface, the best thing to use is crude oil, .that should be sparingly put on with a clean cheesecloth ra<r. When rubbing this into the wood care Should be taken to polish or work with the grain, not against it, if aU the fnger stains and spots are to be removed quickly and the surfaces left, clean and free from streaks. Where there is carving or small crevices in the wood, the oil should be worked in with a stiff brush. To make sure there will not be enough left on the wood to rub off on the clothing, and make a spot, a fresh piece of cheesecloth should be used as a polisher to work it into the surface as much as is possible. As to cleaning upholstery, the task is more difficult. With velours there is little to be done except a brisk brushing with a stiff whisk broom to take out the dust. If there are stains and spots the best way to remove them is with naphtha, benzine or just plain water, soap and ammonia, according to the character of the spoiled places. In cretonne, silks and damasks Ihe colors can be brightened and cleaned with naohtha or benzine, though there are several preparations now sold that make excellent cleansers for they not only renwe spots but take out the dirt as well. -^ Enamel paint, either on furniture or woodwork can be cleaned more satisfactorily with whiting than with soap. Wring a piece of fl a nnel as dry Is possible from clear, warm water, dip into the whiting and apply. Use the whiting liberally, rinse off well with clean water, and dry with a clean chamois skin. Brass beds, chandeliers ond lacquered goods may be improved' wonderfully by taUng a soft rag, putting a little sewing machine oil on it and then goin X o ver the bed or fixtures. The oil will remove fiy snecks and leave a lustre, rt docs not harm ihe lacquer Uon t be afraid to use a littie elbow greese. But never use such things as onions, lemon.s, benzine, turpentine, gritty soap, acids or lye, which will remo-ve all the lacquer, more .or less prod- icing a coat of verdigris if the articles be not cleaned every day or two after the laoquer is removed. If you have carpet squares or rugs you wish to clean a t home, proceed as follows : Stretch and tack the square upon a clean floor, then scour it well with soapsuds. After the scouring it must be thoroughly rinsed to remove all trace of the soap, after wfiich the rue; should be left in the same position to dry and the tacks should rot be removed until is is ncrfi, 1 "?:. If t# is is Cone the ru^ will not shnnk and- will he perfectly flat upon IT.c floor when put A Brussels c a rpet or rug that has become dingy or faded c a n be agreeably freshened by preparing dye the nS h Sha i? e n 3? d ap P^ in ff !t to lh e carpet with a paint bmsh The carnet -.should be tacked smoothly 't o the floor and' no furniture allowed on it until thor° oughly dry. A second or third dyeing may be necessary to pet-the desired color. * V A cloth wrung out of milk is the best means of taking up the. dust and brightening linoleum Where ThhV S i, S i C « arCe> us « lukercrann water to which has been added half a cunful of kerosene oil or some good *S mture polish. Wring the- cloth rather dry &oni tis and go over the linoleum after sweeping. An ordinary broom should not be usea upon tfn oleum any more than upon a hardwood floor, be aura it is too harsh t and ll n n \ mfi i r ? d i! CeS , ******* scratch^. Have a 'soft long-handled, brush, which takes the dust from a Sol* ished surface much better than a broom- and does-not scratch or mar the surface ; thru finish 4m a cYeWn clo<H wrung, out _of the oil ami water. Most hou£ keepers scrub oilcloth and linoleum a s thou E h thw were a kare floor. They are dust* rather than dirty, since everything remaps- on • the top