The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08

dIlOW6u u wei uHnDftlid 10 "Trip over an Odk
floor the traces Of his call will be visible in
black or dark blue stains in the grain Of the
wood. Before rewaxing these stains
should be removed, which is easily done
by dissolving a few crystals Of oxalio acid in
water, making a little pool of the solution
owe a spot, and leaving It over night.
In the morning the stains will have AN
ished, and after drying and a little sand
papCring the place will be ready for rewax-
Ing with the rest.
In France, where waxed oak floors have
been in use perhaps from time immemorial.
nothing but pure beeswax is used OF them.
The oak floors in the palaces of Versailles
and the Louvre are so highly polished that
the furniture il effected in them; yet these
floors were laid more than 200 years ago,
in some cases, and have been in use ever
since, and nothing but pure beeswax has
eve been applied to them.
Although pure beeswa2 is perhaps the
best material, in the long run, for use or
hardwood floors, it Is soft and slightly
sticky, requiring frequent rubbing, so that
American floor wakes usually contain a
proportion OF paraffine.
wise to remember that the more beeswax
they contain the more frequently they
will need to be rubbed, but the more easily
they can be polished n cleaned. Those
containing. more paraf1ne will give at first
a brilliant and comparatively durable
polish, but will require greater labor for
thorough renovation.
To et to our floor. When the ~turpentine
has ~evaporated II is time to begin waxing.
If the pores Of the wood are still we'll filed
with WI Z only the surface needs to be
treated.
The wax in the can will be OF the proper
consistency for putting on. 1t should be
rubbed on evenly with a rag and left to dry.
A new floor when W xed must be left
over night before polishing, but an old floor
been applied all over it. A woollen rag
may be used for this purpose, but the best
thing is q weighted brush with a long handle.
This should be used first across the grain
Of the wood, then parallel with it. II a
still higher polish Is desired a bit Of Brussels
carpet may be put under the brush for
A hardwood floor that has been vanished
or oiled presents a much more serious
problem. Some portions of 1t will probably
be quite black now, while Others will be
worn white. The only satisfa Glory treat
to the bare wood and then to refinish prop
erly with wax.
Washing is worse than useless, as Il only
makes the old linseed oil glmmy without
removing the dirt. And blea ching with
oxalic acid gives an unpleasant notified
effect.
Stained soft wood floors which show
worn places should be touched up with
the same stain, and the whole should then
be vanished with some first class floor
yarnish. The varnish should be renewed
at intervals in the places subjected to most
wear, but il the floor has been go long neg
leoted that not only the varnish but the
stain is worn through and, must be patched
a fresh coat OF yarnish over the whole foor
will do something to hide the junction Of
the new and old stain inc add to its APP
pearance and durability.
After vanishing a stained floor, as we'll
as in Frightening up one already vanished,
II Ii advantageous to give tia coat Of wax
and rub It. exactly as in the case OF a hard
wood floor.
For kitchen floors, which must be fire..
quently washed with soap and water, wax
finish Is insult BILE, and the best treatment,
IL the floor In good material, liz an applica,
ton of wax oil, a solution Of beeswax in
petroleum.
IL the kitchen floor Is Of uniform quality
and has already began to silver up, two
or three heavy coats Of thick oil paint will
do more to conceal the defects than the
wax oil treatment. French ochre Is the
BEST color for the purpose. and should be
used just ne II comes out Of the can, thin.
ming only as necessary with inseed oil.