Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-05-30
TO FINISH THE FLOOR
HOW ROUGH AND DlSCOlORED
SURFACE WAS RENEWED.
Careful sandpapsrInG Is Essential In
Finishing Hardwood FIoor-Rcom
Kept Clean Without
Carpet.

Inc nTlnBrOom In farmhouse.
especially where there are a number
OF children. soon becomes harbor
for dust; and no matter how particu-
lar one Is in sweeping. this dust is
simpH sai!ted about. some settling on
the furniture. more sinking into the
depths OF the carpet. to be started up
again at the next sweeping
The waved or vanished floors
which spot II drop OF water touches
them are not practicable on the farm:
but the room may still be made pre-
sentable without cafpet. 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. II mere beauty was the motive
But We wanted dura biiity. and floor
not too slippery.
It was first sandpapered until
smooth. And this part OF the work
must be thoroughly done for on its
completeness depends much OF the
future beauty OF the work. as well
as the ease OF keeping 1t in order.
II not perfectly smooth the dust is
bound to stick; while II the surface
is properly reduced the dust wipes OF
very easily
There were some cracks to be filled
We had read OF a paper pulp filling cas-
lily prepared by tearing newspaper into
small bits and cooking 1t IN pasty
water until soft then kneading 1t into
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 II time Is val
liable 1t is better to invest In a pre-
pared crack filler
This spreads smoothly and evenly
but is white when dry. 1t also. crum
bles when in contact with moisture
To obviate this difficulty ordinary yell
low paint was darkeRed with burnt
sienna until 1t nearly matched the
color Of the floor. and the cracks
given a 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 a coat
OF boiled linseed oil, applied hot 1t
takes comparatively little oil to cover
floor, application being easily made
with flannel cloth.
Now comes the work-fun II there
are little folks in the family. 1t must
be we'll rubbed into the wood; this. next
to sandpapering. being the secret OF
success. Pieces OF burlap serve nicely
for applying the friction. OF course
II one has floor brush the work is
still better accomplished At the end
OF week second application OF oil
should be given. Then once In a
month or six weeks will be found
suffi Client e..
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.
q drawstring
Sweeping done By this method not
only leaves the floor shining and free
from dust but saves much dust from
settling on furniture
II there is need OF 1t. the floor can
De easily cleaned by ,wringing a mop
out Of cold water =
Soft wood floors will require a diff.
terent treatment sBut by filling
cracks and treating the floors in some
manner that will be durable. and us.
Ing rugs instead OF carpets one will
nnd the problem of keeping clean
more easily solved.