The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-13
CARPET CLEANING.
Sensible Suggestions Regarding the Treat
mont of Floor Coverings.

Sensible Suggestions Regarding the Treat
ment of Floor Coverings.
The grit that gets into carpet is
what causes it to wear ont speedily.
Therefore it is best to take up an in
grain carpet as often as twice year
and give it a good beating. Place 1t
upon a stout rope, wrong side out, and
beat we'll; then turn it and beat rather
more gently upon the right side, con-
tinuing until no dust arises from be-
meath the whip or stick, which must not
be sharp at the end, but as dull and
smooth as possible.
Brussels and velvet carpet need not
be taken up oftener than once in three
years, and the heavier grades of floor
coverings - the Weltons, Administers
and Moquettes can remain down for
even four years without detriment, as
they are so closely woven and so heavy
that no dust can penetrate them. A
good hard sweeping will cleanse them
sufficiently, but when the time comes
to take them from the floor it will take
a couple of strong men to do the work.
After they are through and the carpet
is laid again, take two ounces of carbon
ate of ammonia to one gallon of water
wiring cloth out in it and rub the car
pet with it, breadth by breadth, rinsing
and wringing the cloth again about
every yard of carpeting, getting fresh
water if this becomes soiled. If the
carpet, after this rubbing, still looks
soiled, get an ox-gall at the butchers,
turn it into three quarts of cold water
and rub it all over the carpet with
soft scrubbing brush, rinsing off the
lather it makes with clean, cold water
and wipil g dry with clean cloth.
Carpets that reach from wall to wall
and fit snugly into all odd angles are
not keeping in favor, but have been
superseded by the square rug, made to
fit any average floor, the spaces be-
tween border and washboard being
oiled or stained. To carpet ones apart
ments thus is to make modern house
cleaning thing of little moment COM
pared to the house-cleaning of the past,
for not only are these square rugs more
easily handled but they get shaken
often and there can be no such accumu-
lation of dust as where the carpet is
down to stay. Besides, for sanitary
considerations the rugs are to be pre-
ferred, two or three smaller ones being
sufficient for bedroom.
To stain floor cheaply and satisfac-
torily, buy five cents worth of dry
burnt sienna and mix it with one gallon
of coal oil Go over your floor, if soft
wood, and allow to remain all night SO
that the stain will be thoroughly soaked
into the fiber of the wood In putting
it on keep it well stirred up, and apply
with large fiat brush. If "a very light
stain is desired put only half the dry
paint into the coal oil; the full amount
produces a pleasing cherry color. II
oak stain is wished, use yellow ochre
instead of the burnt sienna.
Next morning go over the floor with
hot soap suds and scrubbing brush,
washing off all the surplus coloring
matter. 1t will take a day or two for
the odor to leave the house, but the
odor OF coal oil IS really not so unbear-
able TO some people as is that of fresh
paint. 1t is certainly the cheapest and
simplest methoi known TO stain floors
and is perfectly satisfactory. Boiled
oil and beeswaE heated together make
a fine polish and one that is said to be
lasting Detroit Free Press.