The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-09
TO MAKE AND KEEP A FLOOR.
Filings. stains and Polishes ana
HaHy They should lie lscd.

This il the season of the year when the
house keeper, If she Is not thinking OF
summer home, is considering the subject
OF making her abode for the year round
take on a summersh appearance. and the
first idea which comes into her mind Is
In the way of bare floors and rugs. But
the subject presents many difficulties. 1t
Is like the much-quoted receipt-first set
your bare floors.
After taking account of stock in the way
of floors II Will usually be found, IN the
ordinary house that there is much 10 be-
desired, but little effort will do some
III ing toward putting an ordinary floor into
good condition. If there are large cracks
II viii he found advisable 70 M them with
thin strips of wood. but If they are small
they may be filed in with putty, which
will not show when painted.
The boards must be planned smooth. and
the cracks filed in carefully. or the house.
keeper will find more dust and dirt in
them than In her erstwhile carpets. The
floors having been made ready and II
smooth surface secured, they must be
thoroughly scrubbed and left 10 dry. Pa
t.ence Will be necessary throughout the
process for with each treatment a safii-
Gent time must be allowed for drying.
When the floor has dried after the scrub
bling treat II with two coats OF size, which
must be applied carefully. as the effect of
the entire work depends largely upon this.
An ordinary oak stain can be used, light or
dark, as may be desired. followed by a
coat of varnish must not be put on until
the stain Is quito dry. 1t should BE- mixed
with a quick dryer, which the painter or
decorator will prepare. 1t Is necessary not
to mark the varnish while II is fresh.
Another method TO be used with smooth
boards is To Apply two cents Of very dark
oak stain after the floor has Been scrubbed
and dried. and then polish This polish
can be used on any stained floor,
To make IL melt some heeswax over the
fire. stirring some turpenune into IL at the
same time. When II is of the consistency
OF stiff paste put il iTto q s,5ne Jar. Ap-
ply a little Of this mixture while warm.
with firm. smooth, dry scrubbing brush,
which should be kept for the purpose The
floor Is TO be rubbed briskiy rs II polishing
boots. taking an arms length at time
from the corner where the work begun
a floor polished in this way needs Re-
treatment once IN three or rour weeks.
The troitoir. which is used abroad to pol
ish floors. Is great labor saver and
brings desired results much sooner than
any other nethad. American women some
times improvse one Of these by covering
q brick with carpet and securing II 10 a
mop handle and applying the polish 10 one
side % the brick
f'arquet flooring Is comparatively mex
pensive, and So s9on as il has been laid n
should be rubbed over with a cloth 4 'nfed
IN French polish, which hardens the suf
lace and makes IL ready for Immediate uso
AT the end OF a fortnight polish such "a
mat prepared for the stained floor shopId
De rubbed over II with a soft cd clotl, N
give II gloss, or 1t can be applied with
the frottolr.
For daily treatment the floor should ba
d0sted with r cloth. and spots and stains
can be removed with a little extra ruh-
bing. The stained floor should likeu,lsa
receive a daily busting Washing wo,,Id
disco.or the floor. but spots can be removed
bF rubbing or with IItla stan.
Any serious accident to the r,sr,,,,e.
hoorias should receive professional ,rae,-
fnent, and there are few aceia4n,e ~,
4 good workman cannot repair. With ea~h
pols1ing the fo9r becomes harder s,noCtt,'
e. Jess absorbent ana Of better 49,
To Keep the floor IN condltIap r.,,.f.a-
regular Cleaning and regular rs,uabi,,
win - thin layer Of the polish ana "a -
sfant lookout for stains More har,n 49,,
S"od is done by 4 thick applicable, 90
oees"ax 70 the floor II these g5rsr,4-,,- I
'or preparing ard caring fc- ann, 1r.
iah'Fed 70 the result, accord NJ - -
-aFpet and Upholstery Trade RosJet, 40
All ply reward the householder.