The times., 1897-08-08
FLOOR STAINS.

You wish to know the most economic
stains for floors and how they may he
polished,'' said a well known dealer in
| paints, varnishes and STAINS, when ques-
toned on the subject
Yes; ] cen tell you and those that I
mention am willing 70 guarantee 4 have
| made speciality OF that line of goods for
something over forty years right here in
| Washington city, so you see L have some
claims TO being good authority on the
| subject.
/ The first thing TO do in staining floors,
especially old floors, is TO give them a
good sc1Dbbing with a strong solution
OF soda and water-jUst ordinary cooking
soda and hot water. That is the best
| way in the world TO get grease from
woodwork After that the stain should
| be applied with a broad, soft hair or
| bristle brush, the kind used for white
| washing-not a paint brush. Under or
| dinary circumstances one coat is suffi-
| Gent, but where a deep color is desired
another may te added Then, OF course.
| the floor should not be used until il as
| thoroughly dried.
THE mixing of the stain is. Of course
| important, but anybody with ordinary In
| telligence can do it if they try For
| walnut you must use burnt umber. for
cherry powdered burnt sienna; for oak
yellow ochrei for mahogany about half
and half burnt nnber and powered burnt
sienna. These should be mixed with tur-
pentine about the consistency OF thin
paint. Where a slight polish is desired a
small quantity OF any ordinary yarnish
may be ased-say about one-eighth part
varnish to seyen-eighths Of turpentne.
But would never recommend yarnish on a
floor that Is to be walked on. For stairs
to be covered by carpet or mating, where
only the inches between the bannisters are
exposed, varnish is an addition to the
stain, for it Is easily kept in good condi-
tion with a feather duster or a moist dust
rag.
The cost Of these stains is very little.
The floor OF an ordinary roon-say thirteen
feet by sixteen reet-should not cost at the
outside more than 40 cents. That does
not include the brush. W hich VIII he about
20 or 80 cents. and viii last for years il
properly cleaned after using.
Now, the materials and methods for
polishing these floors are as simple and
inexpensive as the stains, though they
require more elbow grease in applying
These materials are wax, crude oil and |
kerosene Wax / consider the most sat
isfactory, and the best method of apply
ing IL is as follows: First, go over the |
floor with clean, dry cloth TO remove all
dust; then with cloth-flannel, IL pos.
sdble-saturated with crude oil
Last apply the wax with stiff scrub
brush. The wax should he held over the |
fire and allowed to soften before being |
rubbed On the brush. Thus polished floor |
Will be almost too slippery TO walk On aud |
VIII shine like glass. To keep in perfect |
condition it needs to be done about once |
every two weeks. though OF course much |
depends on the purpose for which the room /
is used
Kerosene is excellent for stained floors, |
but should never be used on varnish, as |
it eats it off. 1t should be applied about |
once week with a wooden rag after |
the fioor-has been wiped off with warm |
suds And kerosene used for this pur-
pose Is one instance where the best arti- /
Gle is bot the most desirable, for the I
best grade of oil is not the most desirable
for polishing; the second grade Is the most |
satisfactory, as well as the cheapest.
There are several poiishes to be bought
at paint shops, but they are all made OF
about the same ingredients that / have
mentioned. They are not so cheap, nor are
they any better. The best appliances for
applying polish to painted floors are flannel !
cloth. good bristie brushes and elbow
grease"