The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-07
SUGGESTIONS FOR
PAINTING FLOORS
Stains and Floor Wax May Be Sue.
eesfully Compounded at Small
Cot nj Home.

Be sure that your floors are clean. II
there are any paint spots on them, clean
them on with caustic potash. and IL there
are any large cracks fill them with putty.
III you do not want 10 put the cost OF the
prepared stains into the work, you NAV
| make very good home ones and save quite
little on IL. For instance, II you want
dark floor. like walnut, take a pound
can OF burnt lumber ground In oil: mix n
sufficient quantity of this in boiled Iinseed
oil, enough to color IL and not thicken
the oil very much. Then try II on a
small piece OF wood till you get the color
desired. and in this way you will-set the
quantity Of umber to use Rub this into
your floor until the stain ceases to come
on and II should be rich walnut brown
III some OF the color dries out another
coat will bring Il UP. The next day, wax
IL with the following:
TO quarter OF a pound of ordinary
yellow beeswax. shaved fine nut one
quart Of turpentine and let dissolve II
VIII be the consistency OF cream Rub IL
into the surface with a wooden cloth.
This mixture may be kept on hand, for
the weekly renovation. and the longer It
Is used the better the floors will look.
For an oak stain take strong I've NJ
wood ashes. and add enough copperas to
get the proper shade. Put on with a mon
and varnish when dry. A very easy stain
Is made by putting burnt lumber in alco-
mol To make II the proper consistency
Tor easy application. after painting IL into
the surface, shellac II. instead Of ofling.
When II is dry, sandpaper II nicely. and
then give II coat of good flowing var
nish. This Is an easy finish. also to keep
clear OF dust. as the ordinary mop win
take II up with a few hssty strokes.
Floor Waxing by Electricity,
Among the new uses In the household
for the electric motor, is that of waxing
the floors. task that takes more
strength than weekly wash for the
small family. The apparatus was intro
ouced IN Berlin year ago. where IL was
invented. and has since been installed in
all the newly built fats. II consists Of
an electric motor. the bottom of which
Is FORMED by strong revolving brush.
The motor is attached to one of the light
ing sockets, and the operator takes the
handle and moves the motor from one
part OF the room to another, until the
whole floor is polished. The way of
course, is applied before the work be-
gins, and the entire operation takes onIv
fraction Of the time that is given 10
hand work. The labor is almost moth
ing.
A Homemade Floor PoIi.her,
Take wooden box, such as starch or
cocoa Is shipped in. and stretch several
Weaknesses OF carpet or flannel over the
bottom. allowing 1t to come we'll up on
the sides and tack smoothly. Make a
handle Of two stout pieces of wood.
thirty-six inches long, and Join their
upper end to a shorter piece of wood as
a cross piece and nail all to the box.
Place three paving bricks inside Of the
nd
Just the weight sold for use by women.
Rub always with the grain OF the WOOD.
An Easy Way to Keep q waxed
Floor in Order.
Go over the noor once a week with a
mixture OF equal parts turpentine, sweet
oil. and vinegar, using a soft cloth.
Polish after this with a soft rag, which |
may be wrapped around a floor broom.
A Cleaner for Brass.
An ounce Of alum. put in a pint of
boiling water and allowed to cool and
bottle for use at any time, will remove |
all Stains and tarnish from brass and |
will not inture the skin on the hands |
Or the metal itself. II only requires to |
be rubbed on the surface ana wiped on.
A Homemade Brass Lacquer.
A sflne nnish may be made for brass
ioor knobs, candlesticks. bowls, and
even the brass rods on the enamel beds, |
10 say nothing Of articles made entirely
of brass.
These may be preserved to look like
new IL covered with a thin coat Of lac
Iuer. Dealers make you pay well for
his finish II ordered after the first
purchase OF the article, and Incidentally
I Is almost universally applied to all
BRASS and silver, now sold for toilette
md decorative use. The following may
De kept on hand and used at any time
hat fresh piece needs to be covered: |
Dissolve two ounces of gum copal In
,ne pint Of denatured alcohol and one
'ourth OF pint OF amyI alcohol. Since
he gum is slow in dissolving. 1t is well
% get IT powdered and shake IL occa-
'ionally for a few days, and then let
{ settle for a day or so. The clear liquor
Mould then be poured on into another
,ottle. Polish your brass or silver first
Ind then apply with a small brush. A
'ery thin coat 10 all that 10 needed. ~