Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-01-26
TO FINISH THE FLOOR
HOW ROUGH AND DIscoLoRED
SURFACE WAS RENEWED,
Careful Sandpapering Is Essential In
Finishing Hardwood Floor-Room
Kept Clean Without
Carpet.

The living-room in a farmhouse,
especially where there are number
of children, soon becomes a harbor
for dust; and no matter how particu-
lar one is in sweeping, this dust is
simply shifted about, some settling on
the furniture, more sinking into the
depths of the carpet, to be started up
again at the next sweeping
The waxed or vanished floors
which spot if drop of water touches
them are not practicable on the farm;
but Che room may still be made pre-
sentable without carpet, clean, and
more easily kept in order.
In our own case the problem was
to finish hardwood floor that has
been used some years, and was rough
and discolored in places. Perhaps
some of the prepared floor wakes
would have given more pleasing re-
suits, if mere beauty was the motive.
But we wanted durability, and a floor
not too slippery.
It was first sandpapered until
smooth. AnG this part of the work
must be thoroughly done; for on it's
completeness depends much of the
future beauty of the work, as we'll
as the ease of keeping it in order.
If not perfectly smooth the dust is
bound to stick; while if the surface
is properly reduced the dust wipes off
very easily.
There were some cracks to be filed.
We had read of paper pulp filling cas-
lily prepared by tearing newspaper into
small bits and cooking it in pasty
water until soft, then kneading it into
a pulp. This may answer with very
large cracks.
1t is difficult to work smoothly into
small ones, and on the whole rather
an expensive makeshift if time is val
liable. 1t is better to invest in a pre-
pared crack filler.
This spreads smoothly and evenly,
bles when in contact with moisture.
To obviate this difficulty ordinary vel
low paint was darkened with burnt
sienna until it nearly matched the
color of the floor, and the cracks
given coat OF it after the filler had
been in twenty-four hours and be-
come hard.
Allowing another day for the paint
to dry, the floor was treated to coat
of boiled linseed oil, applied hot. 1t
takes comparatively little oil to cover
a floor, application being easily made
with flannel cloth.
Now comes the work-fun If there
are little folks in the family. 1t must
be well rubbed into the wood; this, next
to sandpapering, being the secret of
success. Pieces of burlap serve nicely
for applying the friction. Of course
If one has a floor brush the work is
still better accomplished. At the end
of a week second application OF oil
should be given. Then sonce in
month or six weeks will be found
sufficient.
Make several bags of canton flannel,
with the nap side out, or of outing
flannel. One of these can be slipped
over the broom and held in place by
a drawstring.
Sweeping done by this method not
only leaves the floor shining and free
from dust but saves much dust from
settling on furniture.
If there is need of it, the floor can
be easily cleaned by wringing mop
out of cold water.
Soft wood floors will require diff
ferent treatment But by Iilling
cracks and treating the floors in some
manner that will be durable, and US
ing rugs instead of carpets one will
find the problem of keeping clean
more easily solved.