The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-27
PORCH FURNITURE KEPT
NEAT WITH LITTLE CARE
Paint and Varnish, Properly APP
piled, Improve Both It's APP
pearance and Wear.

Porch furniture is expected 10 stand
a very great deal OF rough wear, and.
generally speaking, 1t does pretty we'll
AT the same time 1t gets shabby look
ing, OF course. while 1t may really be
kept In good condition by exercising
moderate amount OF care,
At tho outset, perhaps. L should say,
for the benefit OF those who have not
yet tried it---that II you are going TO
paint or varnish shabby chairs or
other articles Of yeranda furnishings,
do 80 when they are put away In the
fall, and give them all winter in which
to get dry.
Most people give the coating in the
spring or early summer and when the
first warm. humid days come paint
and varnish seem to give. with the
result that gowns are often ruined.
or, at all events, injured good deal
The paint and varnish not only I'M
prove the appearance, but also the
wear of porch furniture, but the re-
novating must not be left too long.
The kinds OF furniture for outdoor.
use in summer include willow,
wicker. prairie grass and the different
varieties OF cane.
furniture on the order of mission in
very light weight is used out 'of doors
now adays. 1t certainly is very sub
stantial and resifui looking. too,
| whether in the wood browns or duh
| forest greens. while the addition of
cushions covered with gay colors
makes up "a most attractive whole.
To keep mission wood in good or,
der Ia very little trouble. True, 1t
( ala .NP 1,.s yr
these days OF dustless busters the fur
| niture may be kept free by having one
| of these conveniences on hand. If
sun or rain has created ravages the
application OF well oiled rag will
usually restore the wood to It's oriGi-
nal condition. allowing the oil TO sink
in and then rubbing with a clean
rag.
Should the wood become actually
dirty from just general use, soap and
water may be applied with excellent
results. When dry the furniture Is
ready for the oiling.
Chairs and tables manufactured
from prairie grass and known as crex
furniture, is very attractive. but 1t
has a great way of catching the dust
A stiT brush will dislodge 1t in the
crevices and damp cloth Ia better
for removing II when brought TO the
surface.
The parts OF chairs under the seats
and the lower parts of tables catch
and also retain the dust very easily.
so that every day Ia none too often
TO give attention TO the busting.
The finish applied to the crex fur
niture IL exceedingly durable, and IL
kept free from dust viii last almost
indefinitely.
Willow furniture, though not so
substantial as the crex, requires very
little daily care, but when it begins,
in fact. before 1t begins. to look
little dark and soiled. each article
should be thoroughly washed in
solution Of salt and water, used hot.
in the proportion of handful or
salt to a pain of water. Afterward
rinse in lukewarm water to remove
all trace OF the salt, then leave in
the sun to dry. Unless the salt Is
thoroughly washed off, II Will give" /
in damp weather. and will not only
make the chair uncomfortable, but
the salt Will attract and hold every
particle Of dust that may be flying
around. These may seem very trivial
details, but It is easy to clean fur
nIturs and in the end find the last
state worse than the first-"
The cane seats OF chairs are apt to
sag with constant use, and for tight
ening purposes there is nothing bet
ter than the application of plenty OF
hot water-the hotter the better. The
chairs should be turned bottom up
ward and the water applied from
the under part Of the seat, back or
foot rest as required. Salt and water
will freshen the cane work. az Well
as II does the willow ware. The
spttnt wood chairs can be washed
with soap and warm water safely, and
after good drying In the sun will
be seen to hace greatly improved.
Tho frames of chairs for outdoor
use are OF only simple woods. and 20
may be washed of with lukewarm
water and a good white soap. which
will keep them In good condition
The plain. unstained woods are not 30
easily kept clean as those that are
lysyuishsd. ELIZABETH LEE.
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