FLAX MATS

Te Ao Hou, October 1958, Page 63

FLAX MATS Another query concerns flax matting and how to clean it. Many people have this type of floor covering now. While it can look very attractive, it certainly does have its problems. For instance, it does let the dirt seep through to the floor, so the first thing when you set out to do a clean-up job is to vacuum the topside thoroughly and then lift it so that you can vacuum underneath. I know this means you must lift tacks if the matting has been used for closecarpeting a room. But it must be done if you want good service from your floor covering. Dirt and grit are often sharp and flinty and will cause wear. A wipe over with a damp cloth wrung out in warm water plus a few drops of ammonia will freshen up the matting, provided it is just a little dulled but not really soiled. But recently we have heard of flax matting that seems to be oily. Probably oil has been used in the manufacture and it is coming out gradually. Of course the oil attracts and holds any dirt that falls on the surface and so raises a major cleaning problem. Again we suggest using a detergent. It increases