The times., 1898-02-13
TO MAKE OLD FURNIrr RE NEW
Oils, Varnishes and Washes That
Work Household Wonders

AS the best of furniture will grow
dusty and shabby in appearance, care
full housekeepers are constantly fight
ing the approach of age and dirt from
their household gods in the way of
chairs and table.
Oak wainscoting and furniture are
apt in time to assume greasy ap-
pearance, which should be removed
during the annual housecleaning by
washing ii in warm beer. To give it a
handsome gloss, brush it over with a
mixture OF two quarts of beer, boiled
with a tablespoonful OF sugar, and a
piece of beeswaX as large as a walnut;
Mnen dry poiisn Win d cnamoIs or
Hannel. II oak or WaInuI articles are
injected WITH UIny insect tnat pores
noIeS until the wood crumDleS into a
me power, stop It's WIG career by
SaIurauIng the wood with creosote; 90
not aliow IL TO dry for several days.
IL furniture is very dirty II should be
washed IN water and vInegar-equal
partS-using a flannel rag, and tnen,
after perfect drying, rubbed with d
clean nannel ana a little linseed oil be
fore using any liquid or cream polish.
If a table bears the tell-tale mark left
by hot plate, etc, rub it we'll with
lamp oil and flannel, finishing off with
a clean cloth slightly wet with spirits
of wine. Another notable housewife re-
stores the original polish when it has
been removed by warm dish with lin
seed oil, rubbed in with piece of linen,
changing the linen until the table top is
perfectly dry. White spots are remov-
ed by rubbing them with a piece of
flannel and turpentine, repeating the
application if necessary, and in any
case rubbing with a good will, until
patience and strength are about eX1
hausted.
Unsightly finger marks disappear
from vanished furniture when rubbed
with sweet oil, and from oiled wood if
kerosene is rubbed on the spots. A
bruise should be treated with a piece of
brown paper, folded several times and
soaked in hot water; over this hold a
moderately warm iron until all steam
ing ceases: if necessary repeat the pro-
cess remembering that one application
does not always turn out a success.
Always apply alcohol Sparingly upon
furniture. if at all, or it will destroy
the polish.
= Clean carved furniture every week
by thoroughly busting it with a new
paint bruSha If the mahogany table,
that is the pride of your heart shows
stains, drops on them a mixture of
six parts of spirits of salt and one
of salts of lemon or a few drops of
oxalic acid and water, rubbing until
the stain disappears, and then wash
with water and polish as usual. If
mahogany only needs cleaning, rub it
with flannel dipped in sweet oil OF
cold drawn linseed oil. In rubbing
wood follow the grain, and do not rub
against it any more than you would
in people if wishing a happy result.
If an ink stain gets upon a mahoga-
ny writing desk, remove with a few
drops Of spirits of inter in a spoonful
of water. Put one drop on the ink, and
rub it at once with a cloth wet with
water, or it will make a white spot
Every day a dining-tabIe of mahogany
should be wiped off with clean fan
mel. dipped in barely warm seapsuds,
using a pure soap to prevent staining,
and then with a thick flannel wad
pour melted wax until it forms a glaz-
ed surface; when cold and hard, rub
the table. following the grain, until it
reflects your image like a mirror.
All upholstered furniture must be
beaten with cane or regular rattan
peater and then wiped with a cheese