The Washington times., 1905-09-30
How TO Care for Furniture and
Keep II Nice at Moving Time
Packing Delicate Pieces to Prevent Scratching or
Breaking in TranSit-Work Not Difficult

Half the expense OF moving house,
hold goods in the October exodus can
be saved by those who are changing
apartments IL some member of the
family viii properly pack the furniture
china, delicate bric-a-brac, fine hang
ings. etc, for carting. and thus save
the cost of having them boxed or
Grated. Packing the frailest piece of
cut glass, or Grating a big. highly pol
ished desk or chair is not difficult work
for an inexperienced woman when she
understands that everything must be
properly protected from scratches or
breakage by pads and carefully
wrapped with paper or excelsior, on
with both, as is essential with fine
chinaware.
Heavy pieces OF mahogany, oak, etc,
that are not elaborately carved, require
little preparation before the moving
often only a heavy blanket being
thrown over the top of a big desk, table
etc, to prevent scratching. A piano.
in any style. if covered with a blanket
or regulation rubber fleece lined robe
should keep the highly polished surface
free from bruises or scratches, IL 1t is
carefully Grated. If big furniture is
handsomely decorated and the orna-
mentation is in places where IL might
be broken, then crate should be used
and padding OF soft wrapping paper
should be placed on the prominent cor
ners 10 save them from injury Beds,
settees, couches should either be padded
or Grated TO move them with safety.
Upholstered Furniture.
Upholstered furniture should first be
entirely covered with fine tissue paper.
bound in place by strings. and then
wrapped with burlap that must De sew
ed on TO keep it in place. Fancy gold
furniture and pieces with delicate spin
die legs should be packed with the ut
most care to prevent marring the polish
or breaking. The legs and arms are
carefully wrapped with soft tissue pa
per and then covered with wrapping
paper tnat is bound with cord The
crates. made Of lightweight pine boards
entirely cover the furniture, which is
held firmly in them by cleats that screw
to the bottom Of the seat on a chair or
to the back of desk. etc. and are
then nailed to the crate TO prevent
the piece from slipping. IL the seat
and back are upholstered with fine We
lour. silk damask, etc, they should be
well covered with tissue paper that is
held in place by heavy wrapping pa
per and twine.
Pictures in expensive frames should DO
boxed in moving just as valuable paint
ings are protected by fastening two
stats or cleats TO the top and bottom
at the back OF the frame and then nail
ing these into a box, one above the 9TH
er and far enough apart to prevent any
injury by scratching or breaking. The
Stats hold them securely in the box, and
no top should be nailed on unless the
furniture IS TO be shipped out OF the
\ city.
Books are probably the easiest of ali
| the belongings TO pack, because II they
are carefully placed in a box that Is
lined with heavy wrapping paper. and
Denough of them are put in to prevent
3elipping. they can be moved any dis
tance without rubbing the edges or
crumpliDg the paper. The best plan Is
% pack them with the backs up and
ne box is not filled. the unoccupied
jpace should be stuffed with soft rags,
etc.. TO hold the books steady All
10th and leather bound volumes should
e boxed in this way. but the de luxe
Editions I'm fine kid. silk and satin bind
.ngs should be carefully wrapped in tis-
Sue paper before packing.
Packing Hangings.
Long silk draperies. costl-' hangings.
heavy carpets. etc. are folded and put
In paper lined boxes with a sheet cover
ing the top TO keep out dust To prevent
creases that are frequently difficult 10
get out Of silk portIeres or Wilton and
velvet carpets pad or thick wrapping
paper should be put between the folds.
20 -hen unpacked they VIII be smooth