The Colorado statesman., 1908-08-22
CARE OF FURNITURE
SOME HOUSEHOLD SUGGESTIONS
WORTH NEEDING.
Rag Rugs Becoming More Popular, and
Are Artistically Made-To Re-
store Mahogany That Is in
Bad Condition.

TIE 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
used 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, it is well 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, and
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 plain color, while
others are pretty with plain centers
and figured borders. 1t takes about one
and a half pounds of cotton rags for
one square yard of weaving. When
rags are furnished to the weaver, his
charge is from so to 60 cents a 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. After this is done, either wax
varnish or oil may be applied. Dents
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 little whit
ing If necessary. At the end it should
be thoroughly rubbed dry with a soft
cloth. Gilt furniture and gilt frames
may be cleaned with a paste made oi
whiting and alcohol. This should be
rubbed off before it hardens. Natural
colored wicker furniture can be
scrubbed with a brush and warm soar
suds. Painted and enameled wicker
should be treated like white enameled
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
standing finish, and must be treated
with extreme measures. The old fin.
ish must be first removed, and when
the floor is revarnished, see that the
liquid is of good quality, and that
several coats are given. A waxed
floor needs only another coat of wax
and 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 sponging
them with alcohol and salt, pint OF
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 then
brushed off. French chalk will re.
move fresh grease spots. Cover the
spots well, then spread brown paper
over them and apply moderately
hot iron.