The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-04-21


March, April and May, according
as one is forehanded or a little be-
midland, are the principal months
for what is known as the spring
cleaning. Now there are a number
of simple but effectual methods of
cleaning furniture, paint, woodwork,
ETC., which, if only more widely
known and practised would prove a
boon and blessing to the careful
house wife, not only by saving the
expense incurred by resorting to the
professional cleaner, but by prevent
ing the almost wholesale destruction
wrought by injudicious cleaning.
Some things, such as curtains and
hangings, for instance, it is most
unwise to attempt at home, unless
they chance to be made of washing
materials. If the carpets are only
slightly faded, the brightness of the
colors may be much restored by
simply rubbing them we'll with
strong salt and water; but should
they require thorough cleaning,
the following mixture will be found
excellent for the purpose.
Cut up lib of white soap into a
gallon of water, and boil it till the
soap is dissolved, then add to it 2 OF.
of salts of tartar. After the carpet
has been well shaken, apply this
mixture while hot, with a brush
covering not more than square yard
at time, and drying well with a
coarse towel.
Chinese and Japanese mating
may be much improved by sponging
with strong salt and water, but the
wet must not be allowed to sink
through.
A very good polish for hard wood
floors is made by scraping l OF. of
beeswax into about half a teacupful
of linseed oil, and gradually dissOlv-
ing it in turpentine till of the thick
ness of cream. This is applied with
wollen cloth, and afterwards
rubbed up with soft buster. This
mixture is equally good for linoleum
and for stained floors. Should a
| floor require Restraining, one quart
of cOld-drawn linseed oil, well mixed
with 11aOz. of rose pink, and 4Oz. of
alkanet root, will provide a verv
nice stain. 1t should be left stand
ing by the fire for three or four days
and will then be ready for use. Rub
it on the floor with a large white
wash brush, leave it to dry; repeat
this process once more, and then
when dry polish with the mixture
just given for hard wood floors.
Paper hangings demand most
careful treatment, and it is seldom
wise to attempt more than busting
them with soft cloth. Rubbing
with stiff dough is often suggested
but, unless this is most skilfully
done, the result Is q streaky appear.
ance-much worse than genera
uniform dirtiness. The dough, how
ever, may be used to remove grease
spot, provided that the paper is suf
ficiently substantial to allow of tn,
necessary rubbing; with thin, poo
quality of paper it might produce
hole.
All paint should be cleaned with
little ammonia in quantity of warn
not hot-water, and finished witt
a sponge and clean, cold water
never touching it with a cloth. L
the case of white paint, a littl
whitening may be added to the waite
Gilt frames of every description
require the greatest care, and after
thorough busting with a feathe
: brush, should be merely sponge
with a very little turpentine, not to
, wet. but only just moist enough
, remove the dirt and the dy marks.
> For alabaster, ornaments, etc
: make a paste with quickiime an
: water, leave it on for few day
and then wash of with warm waite
and soap.