New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
HOUSEWIFE LORE.
HOW TO STAIN FLOORS AND FURNITURE.

HOW To STAIN FLOORS AND FURNITURE.
The know,adee Of the use of stains and varnishes
and how 10 polish and clean furniture IS inVaIu-
able 10 an economical housekeeper. wEo can easiy
with the help of intelligent maid Keep her
house clean and bright and freshen t up when need
be without calling In the aid OF an expensive "orA-
man Formerly stains were confined 10 the co.o's
nearly resembling natural woods; but OF late all
colors are used-greens. blues reds ana yellow
which par;ake in no Of the nature OF paint
but are stains pure and simple. showing the gram
of the wood.
The most fashionable STAN at present FOR cottage
furniture is green, not sage green. but GOOD
od-fasho,ed regular green which when rubbed
well into the pores of the wood and then polished
is really beautiful The two transparent coors,
PrlIssian blue and sienna, make. when mixed
together, an excellent green or II brgnte unt
Is desired gamboge and Prussian blue. very lttie
OF the latter goes great way. as 1t is altogether
the most powerful color known. and completely
ovcrcomes any other pigment II mixed in equal pro-
portions IN staining. Il should be borne IN mnd
that IL is not paint but stain, and that very little
should be used pound being sufficient to stain
a whole set Of furniture.
To get a good color the wood must be light. Oak,
yellow or white pine. maple any OF THESE are sui
able and the more grained the better, the more
effect Of birds -eye maple. the heavy markings OF
oak and the picturesque knot SO often seen IN
yellow pine. all coming out particularly well
through the translucent color
The best way 10 apply stain and bring out the
gran of the wood Is to put 1t on quite thick and
then rub /, off with linen or cotton rag. and 1t
il absolutely necessary that the wood should be
in It's natural condition without paint or varn'sh'
BY sending a specal order 10 the manufacturers
it is easy get sets OF furniture without e'tAer'
but II IT s an Old piece that is to be renovated,
IL must be thoroughly scraped. After stain ns,
coat Of hard oil finish may be applied as filler and
IL ~
with the prepared beeswax that comes In cans for
floors and rubbed with flannel ciotn unit II 10
ON IL should be allowed 10 harden before polishing
IT, Prussan blue alone makes q very pretty pea
cording to the amount OF color used. crimson lake
a lovely red, burnt sienna an almost exact inita-
called transparent colors, and are, therefore es-
pecialiy adap.cd for STAINS bit even opaque coors
wood Pi produce sometimes very pretty effects White
on certain woods has a milky, opaieSque coorns
Light blue yellow. apple green and PINK
ali may be used on woodwork as stains II appIsd
In the way that house painters call "prming'
that is. one coat Of paint put on so thin that 1t
shows the marknS OF the wSIa eorf f
Furniture at the seashore 10 apt to look dngy and
clouded There is nothing 50 good TO clean paint
varnish with as the ordinary Kerosene which Is
used for lamps Il Is 20 volatile that 4 has s, none
pungent odor which 50 many object to disappears In
couple OF hours. serving in the mean time as an
admirable u snEectant am. Insect destroyer. A
table that Is stained and shabby may be made
TO look as good by first cleaning II thor
oughly with kerosene. then giving II coat OF
hard oil finish. and afterward. when perfectly dry.
applying the prepared with rag. Let (
stand al hours and then polish hard. first with
flannel CLOTH and afterward with an Old silk
handkerchief.
Floors may BE- easily vanished and waxed by a
delicate woman In this way Take very low chair
stool $50 low that a brush held In the hand can
easily reach the floor without stooring) and by
moving the chair along the entire surface OF the
floor be easily covered first with the yarntsh.
and afterward. when dry. with the Where
heavy we GIFTED floor brush Is not available. the
old French way may be substituted. l. O.. wrapping
up the feet In hannel and shuffling over the floor
OF skating a brush. IL Is funny TO see servant
who has been trained TO wax floors In this way In
Europe at his work. performing a sort OF stunning
dance the floor. with has feet looking Ike
pudding bags. and his eyes fixed on vacancy, as
h. solemnly dances to and fro quite unconscious OF
the laushsble spectacle he presents ,.
II nave patent method OF my own or waNins
noor." said mother in Israel and cay "a nous r
keeper II turn all children In with their stock
ing feet. play a jig on the piano and let them run
and slide ali the floor; they ttnk great 1uus
and IL certainly poiBheo Il finely"