Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-09-06
HONEMAKRRS COLUMN.
Consequences O Topics q ,nsssses . - ladle.
ooEun. oxiord Dsnoezsk soaik Rssis. Ns
How 70 fialsh on rloers.
vAaz1sz, STAIN. AID PAIHr HELP THx
APPEARANCH.

APPEAaAHoH.
."What can do with these dlpgy old
floorsf Until this year they've been
carpeted, but I know that the house
would be moro sanitary and easier to
clean with flnishsd floors and rugs that
could bs taken out Of doors eysfy week.
| I'd like 20 get the floors fixed this SUM
! msr while the boys are home from high
school to help, but I don't know how to
start"
This problem 10 perplexing many
housekeepers who want their homes ~
look we'll and ut the Same time to make
house cleaning easier.
A DULL NEUTRAL coLoB Is BEST.
The most durable and attractive finish
for floor depends on the kind OF wood
and how It has been treated, says tho
United States Department Of Agricul-
| ture. Upflnished pine, spruce. or other
soft wood floors can be varnished, stain
| Cd and varnished, or painted, depending
somewhat on tho condition Of the wood
and the rest OF the woodwork In the
house. Whatever flush II chosen,
dull neutral color that tones In with
walls and furnishing 10 best.
First of all, make the door ~ level
and smooth % possible. Plano or sand
psper sough places. and draw ont oil
remnants OF tacks or drive them below
| the surface with nall set. Then scrub
the wood with hot soap suds or securing
powd and rinse thoroughly with clear
water. Ink stains and similar spots can
often be bleached out with solution
made BY dlssolving one teaspoon OF OK
alic acld In ono cup Of hot water. This
solution 10 poisonous and must, Of
course, be carefully handled, also oil
traces Of It and of soap suds or securing
powder must be removed with clean
water, otherwise they will injure tho fn-
ish used on the floor.
HOMEMADE STAIN FOR FLOORS.
When tho wood 10 perfectly dry the
stain, paint, or varuish can be applied.
For pine floor, . good brown stain
can be made by dissolving m ounce OF
permsnRsnate Of potash In . quart Of
warm water. This liquid 10 violet col.
ored, but when applied to wood, chem.
icsl action results and the wood ID stain.
cd brown. :.
Another brown stain for either hard
wood or softwood 10 made from 4
ounces pulverizsd gilsonite dissolved In
q quart Of turpentine.
Apply either Of these stains with .
clean brush or sponge, taking even
strokes parallel with the grain OF the
wood, and wipe the stained surface, ct
once with clean, soft cloth or cotton
waste. After the stain has dried for ut
least "A hours, polish the floor with .
soft cloth, and apply another coat II the
color 10 not deep enough, or finish with
varnish or wax.
USE THE BEST QUALITY OF vARAIsH.
Vsrpish is generally preferred on soft.
wood floors, and the best quality Of shell
| lac vaFnish or that especially recon.
mended for floors should be used. Some
ysrnishes are unsuitable for floors be-
cause they leave hard, brittle coating.
that 10 easily marred and wears OF quick.
~. Shellac varnish may be mixed OF
home % follows:
pounds gum shellac
1.2 pound castor oil
1 gallon alcohol denstured according
to q. s. Internal Revenue formula
No. 1.
Put these ingredients into well-stop-
pered bottle In Q warm place, and shake
the bottle frequently until the shellac IL
dissolved. The alcohol should contain
not moro than per cent Of water, and
care should be taken not to drop any
water into It a. 1t 10 being mixed with
the dry shellsc. The castor oil aids In
making tho varnish flexible and less britt
tie whom dry, but may DO omitted. In
that case the gum shellao should be In
creased to 2 10 pounds. II too thick,
this varnish may be thinned by the I'd.
dition Of more alcohol.
Have the surface of the wood and the
air In the room free from dust before
vanishing. Also, u possible. have the
temperature OF the room 70o r. or high
or, and apply the varnish In the morning,
because Il dries better during daylight.
Brush on the varnish In thin coat with
even strokes parallel with tho grain Of
the wood. Allow the floor 10 dry for Ut
least two days and apply one or perhaps
two more coats In the Same way.
PAINTED FLOORS EASY 70 CLEAN.
Good quality paint of neutral color
also makes good finish for softwood
floors. At least two coats should be
applied. After the last coat Of paint 10
dry, soft lustrous finish can be given
With equal parts of linseed oil and tur.
pentine. Rub this on with soft cloth,
and polish the floor with WOODEN cloth.