The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13
FURNITURE.
How to Preshen and Preserve Oiled ana Var
nished Woods.

|
How TO Preshen and Preserve Oiled and Var
nished Woods.
As the best of furniture will grow dusty and
shabby in appearance, careful housekeepers are
constantly fighting the approach of age and dirt
from their household goods in the way of chairs
and tables. Oak wainscoting and furniture are
likely in time to assume a greasy appearance,
which should be removed during the annual
housekeeping by washing it in warm beer. To
give 1t a handsome gloss, brush 1t over with q
mixture of two quarts Of beer, boiled with a
tablespoonful of sugar. and a piece Of beeswax
as large rs a walnut; when dry polish with a
chamois or flannel. II oak or walnut articles
are infected with a tiny insect that bores holes
until the wood crumbles into a fine powder, stop
fits wild career by saturating the wood with Gre
osote; do not allow it to dry for several days.
II furniture is very dirty 1t should be washed
in water and vineEar-equal p~arts-using a
flannel rag. and then. after perfect drying,
rubbed with a clean flannel and a little linseed
oil before using any liquid or cream polish.
II a table bears the ~telltale mark left by O hot
plate rub it well with lamp oil and flannel. fin
ishing off with a clean cloth slightly wet with
spirits of wine. Another notable housewife re-
stores the original polish. when 1t has been re-
moved by a warm dish. with linseed oil. rubbed
in with a piece of linen, changing the linen
until the table top is perfectly dry. White
spots are removed by rubbing them with a niece
of flannel and turpentine. repeating the applica-
ton II necessary, and in any case rubbing with
a good will until patience and strength are
about exhausted.
Unsightly finger marks disappear from var
nished furniture when rubbed with sweet oil.
and from oiled wood IL kerosene is rubbed on
the spots. A bruise should be treated with q
piece of brown paper. folded several times and
soaked in hot water. Over this hold a moder-
ately warm iron until all steaming ceases: il
necessary, repeat the process. remembering that
one application does not always turn out a
success. Always apply alcohol sparipgly upon
furniture, il at all, or 1t will destroy the polish.
Clean carved furniture every week by thor
oughly busting it with a new paint brush. If
the mahogany table that is the pride of your
heart shows stains. drop 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 tho stain disappears, ana then
wash with water and polish as usual. II ma
hogany only needs cleaning. rub 1t with n fan
mel dipped in sweet oil or cold drawn linseed
oil. In rubbing wood follow the grain. and do
not rub against it any more than you would in
people II wishing a happy result.
II an ink stain gets upon a mahogany writing
desk. remove with a few drops of spirits of nitre
in spoonful OF water. Put one drop on the
ink. and rub Il at once with a cloth wet with
a ~a aiein CT table a Th Of make %aho e MSii should sRGld' be E wipsd d az
with q clean flannel, dipped in barely warm
sGsinins. an nSiP eEon a with REahre a t SSsP flannel to prevent wsa
pour melted wax until 1t forms a glazed surface;
when cold and hard rub the table. following
All upholstered furniture must be- beaten
wiped with a cheesecloth duster. A grease spot
nm QilR fnFnifnFa Ia FamnvAd with annual pa.Na
use turpentine. Cane-seated chairs require a
a little ammonia: scrub both sides Of the s usSp
rinse. and dry In the air.
given Am0eSy y s saS many a nad,S tHa f Sers aI poi y isS
that are simple and effectual. but remember the
rubbing Is the main ingredient Of every recipe
alcohol, and one part of turpentino; to a quart
of this add an ounce of the spirits Of ether. A
iRiGssedin oii cT beesw "a ma and q tu e1Sal iSsa msltsS OF Of
gether. and used cold. For very old furniture
an especial polish, Is recommended of half an
ounce OF gum arabic and two ounces each of
copal gum and powdered shellac gum; dissolve
In 9 quart Of spirits of wine in a warm place
hours until the gums are no more distinct;
strain through a woollen cloth and rub on with
Equal parts OF Iinseed oil. spirits Of wine, tur.
but for mahogany this same authority declares
two ounces OF alkanet root and a pinch of rose
pink; let 1t stand for twelve hours. then rub on
the furniture and do not polish II on for an hour.
An excellent furniture varnish may be made of
eight ounces OF white wax melted and gradually
mixed with one pint of oil OF turpentine.
Leather chairs and tops of writing tables are
renovated by sponging them lightly with warm
soapsuds and then rubbing on the white of an
egg whipped stin. Or, IL this seems like wasting
the egg. rub over the leather a mixture OF half
cup of sweet oil to a cupful of vinegar; boil to-
gether and polish the leather with the useful
piece of old flannel. When willow chairs lose
their natural color IT. is said that a solution OF
chlorine will restore H..
Fortunately for artistic furnishing. marble
topped tables arc growing less In number, but
II the owner OF. one, YOU can remove stains and
discolorations by applying the following: Boil
together quarter OF a pound each OF soft SOAP,
powdered whiting and soda for twenty min.
utes; spread on the marble for twelve hours
and then wash of with clean water. For the
ordinary washing OF marble use ammonia and
water in place of soapsuds. To polish black
marble wash ii in cold soapsuds. dry with an
old cloth. and then rub for at least an hour with
flannel spread with white wax. To remove iron
stains from white marble try lemon juice.
IL an oil stain disfRures the surface apply to
1t common clay saturated with benEine. An.
other stain remover Is made Of two parts of
common soda and of powdered pumice sione
and one OF powdered chalk; sift through thin
muslin, mix to a paste with water. and spread
over the marble; after ten hours wash II on
with warm s0ausuds. In the future. II thinking
OF buying a handicapped table, stop. hesitate
and don't and spare posterity inheriting any
moreQf such pieces OF furniture.