The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-08-22
CARE OF FURNITURE
SOME HOUSEHOLD SUGGESTIONS
WORTH NEEDING.
Rag Rugs Becoming More Popular, and
Are ArtisticaIIy Made-To Re-
store Mahogany That Is in
Bad Condition.


The simple rag rug for country
homes and bedrooms is becoming more
popular New materials are now be-
ing used, instead of the discarded
clothing, old sheets, etc, which were
ussAl generations ago for the "hit-and-
miss rag carpet. Those of to-day who
are interested in the work consider
carefully the artistic effect in color
and weave. If the rugs are to be
washed, ii is we'll to use fast colors.
Those for living rooms are made much
darker, and do not need laundering.
Old ingram carpets and hangings may,
be used to good advantage. The most
satisfactory new materials to buy are
ginghams, ticking, denim, cotton fan
.nels, etc. Real thin cotton goods are
not recommended.
In preparing materials for weaving
care should be taken. The strips may
be cut straight or on the bias, ana
they should be nearly an inch wide
They must also be sewed together
very smoothly and firmly. The best
looking rugs are made from the colors
being kept in separate balls. Striped
or figured materials give good results,
with borders of a plain color, while
others are pretty with plain centers
and figured borders. 1t takes about one
and half pounds of cotton rags for
one square yard of weaving. When
rags are furnished to the weaver, his
charge is from so to so cents square
yard, which includes the warp and his
labor
When mahogany furniture is in a
very bad condition the only method of
restoring it is that of first removing
the old finish, and the old method of
scraping and sandpapering is the best
one. Afte~ this is done, either wax
varnish or oil may be applied. beats
| in hard wood may be filled in with col
ored wax. White enameled furniture
| may be cleaned with a cloth damp
ened in warm water and a little whit
| ing Unnecessary. At the end it should
he thoroughly rubbed dry with soft
| cloth. Gilt furniture and gilt frames
may be cleaned with paste made OF
whiting and alcohol. This should be
rubbed off before it hardens Natural
colored wicker furniture can be
scrubbed with a brush and warm SOAP
suds. Painted and enameled wic2el
should be treated like white enameleG
furniture. This sort of ware, however
is quite unsatisfactory because the
enamel chips and the paint wears off
When vanished floors have become
blackened in spots and there are nu
merous heel marks, they need a
| standing finish, and must be treated
with extreme measures. The old fin
ish must he first removed, and wher
the floor is revarnished, see that the
liquid IS of good quality, and thai
several coats are given. A waxeC
floor needs only another coat. of way
and a thorough polishing. Grease
spots can often be removed with tur
pentine. 1t is best to remove spots
from rugs or carpets as soon as they
are made. Spots made by sticky sub
stances may be removed by sponginf
them with alcohol and salt, a pint o.
alcohol to a teaspoonful of salt
Grease or oil spot should be covered
with wet fuller's earth, and allowed
to stand for two days and ther
brushed off. French chalk will re
move fresh grease spots. Cover the
spots well, then spread a brown paper
over them and apply moderately
hot iron.