New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
HOW TO POLISH FLOORS.
MISS PARLOA GIVES MANY USEFUL HINTS
OFTEN, WORK ON ONES KNEES
is NEEDLESS.

The fourth of Miss Paroa's lectures on domestic
economy given at the Y. w. c. A. Building. No.
East Fifteenth-st., yesterday full Of practi-
cal information for the housewife who would keep
her floors and furniture at their best. While not
advising any do over all lser furniture and
floors herself. Miss Parloa said It was well to know
how to repair occasional ravages caused by time
or accident and how best to keep the polished or
vanished floors in good condition
I'm caring for a hardwood floor" said Miss Par
loa. water is the worst possible thing to upon
ii. Any liquid spilled a polls led floor. unless
wiped up at once. leaves dark ugly spot and If
there Is a scratch there discolors II permanently
Sweep daily and dust with piece of ingram
carpet under the foot wrapped about a broom.
If there are soied spots. wipe up with turpentne.
but remember. If the floor is waved, this will re-
move the wax. and this must be put on again.
being careful not TO extend the waxing beyond the
original spot. Melt little beeswax In cup over
the register, or in a hot bath on the back of the
range. Apply with a soft cloth ard rub hard you
cannot put too much strength into waxing but II
you are polishing furniture or woodwork with pum-
Ice stone and oil, pumice stone and water rub
evenly, with good MANY strokes. but do rot bear
on with much weight
"Once a week all floors should be gone over with
a weighted brush These brushes are a great ex-
pense to start with but pay for themselves In the
end They should always be covered when put
away. and kept the first floor"
How do you get into the corners7' was asked
This you have TO do with flannel and on vour
knees was the answer Unlike the English. Dutch
or japanese housewives, who prefer 10 10 their
floor polishing kneeling Miss Parloa raises serious
objection to the strainng of ones Joints or ,ho
muscles of the back unless this is absolutely necas
sary.
She commends the French method-the lisa ~
polishing brushes. made OF Russian bristles
strapped to the feet like skates or pieces OF in
grain carpet wrapped around the feet and slid
ing motion. which combine to give an excellent
polish with minimum expenditure Of strength
An interesting Illustration Of this method was in
stanced by Miss Paroa In the floors of the Daven-
port Home. near Bath. in this State, where the
children. supplied with wooen socks over their
shoes. merrily slide and slip about hand in ha nd
TO the accompaniment of appropriate ktchen-gar-
den songs until the floors all that building are
delightful to behold. This affords suggestion for
the private house supplied with active children
A number of formulas were given In full for re.
storing color TO woodwork and furniture, removing
stains and making polishes. An admirable encaus-
tic used by the French for polishing floors furnl-
ture and marble is composed of one pound OF way
and pint of turpentine Melt the wax in a
water bath OF gentle heat. When quite soft re-
move from the fire and beat in the turpentine II
IT Is TO be used on furniture one gill Of alcohol
is desired, when the alcohol may be omitted and q
gill of paraffine oil used instead
For oak furniture or woodwork that needs re.
newing take one pint of parlfiine oil. and one
half gills turpentine and three tablespoonfls
each OF raw lumber and whiting. For antique oak q
little lampblact should be added
The next lecture, on February 49, will consist ~
resume OF the preceding lecture with information
as 10 fuel, the management of fires and lighting
and ventilation.