South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-10
Care of Hardwood
Floors IN Summer
Expert Tells How to Remove
Stains and Scars and Give
General Attention.

Keeping hardwood hooEs in the
summer time when il is desirable that
"a minimum number of rugs should
be used is one of the problems of
housekeepers. If a few facts are
borne in mind and the attention given
TO such floors becomes an everyday
habit instead of an occasional thought
1t is an easy and simple matter to
have these floors always beautifully
polished and unspotted.
In the first place every hardwood
floor should be gone over at least
once each day with a stiff broom
over which a heavy cloth is Sc
curely wrapped. This of course is
for removing dust. and whei there is
more than the normal quantity OF
dust the process must be repeated as
often as is made necessary by the
accumulation.
When black discolorations show
themselves on your hardwood floor
there is nothing to worry about. 1t
IS only the gallo acid contained in
the wood acted on by the solution
of iron contained i'm the drop of wat
er from a wet walking stick or UNI
brella. An umbrella stand might
have prevented il, though it is by
no means hard to remove. Place a
oXalic acid over the spot for three or
four hours and it Will disappear. When
thoroughly dry rub the spot with wax.
The floor viii be as glossy and I'M
SCARED as new.
When the hardwood floor is of oak
these spots should be guarded
against, as oak is more easily affected
by iron solution than other woods.
Even the tiniest bit Of such solution
will leave a b1aQIr dicpo1orafion
When you wish TO give a wax fin
ished floor a thorough cleansing first
rub all the dull spots with an eraser
10 remove the scars, then touch UP
the spots with fresh wax Either
liquid or solid wax may be used.
After all these dull spots have been
frightened go over the floor with q
deck mop" and remove all loose dirt.
Then to make the floors shine as they
should go over it woth n wooden
cloth beneath a heavily weighted
brush. And don't limit the operations
of this flannel covered brush to the
center of the floor. Search out the
corners and the dark line of shad-
ow next the wall.
Although there are several kinds
of hardwood finish for floors the
most popular and economical rsethod
is the French one of using sNellac.
When this method is employed the
floor will retain its color and lstre
practically forever, granting of course
Ii receives reasonable care A thor
Ough waxing of shellac finished floors
is required once. under rough usage
perhaps twice each year When bad
~ SCARED by hard usage. a waxed
floor may sometimes be restored by
going over it with turpentine or a
wooden cloth. Where the scar pene-
trates the wood the wax must be
scraped off with "A sharp tool, the
scar sandpapered out of existence
and a irish coat Of color and wax
applied.
Waxing floors that have already
been stained or finished is very sim
pie. The materials needed are 2 GUAM
tity of cotton waste turpentine for
cleaning the floor. a heavy weighted
brush for polishing-and his should
be used on the floor before the wax
is applied as well as after it-and a
can of wax in either solid or LIQUID
form The liquid wax is a bit easier
TO apply and both give the same
lustre. The greatest difference is
that the floor on which the solid wax
is used is much less slippery than that
on which the liquid is spread. A daily
busting Of such floors with a stiff
broom covered with a wooden cloth
will keep them bright and clean under
ordinary circumstances.