The Washington times., 1923-04-15

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Spring slogan in the
home, and the woman who yields
the paint brush will save money
and bring herself much pleasure
by her efforts.
Starting first with the kitchen,
undoubtedly the pantry and other
shelves need a new coat of paint.
For this white enamel gives a
sanitary washable finish, easily APP
piled and still easier to keep clean.
Thin the paint to thick cream and
apply with medium size flexible
brush in broad even strokes. Give
two coats, allowing at least two
days between.
Often the upper surfaces of the
kitchen wall remain clean while the
lower three feet are marred and
dirty. It is easy to give this
wainscoting double coat of paint
in such shade as battleship gray,
buff or good green or blue. ] is
even possible for the home expert
to apply oilcloth paper to such a
surface by previously sizing the
wall and using a good glue. In
many cases the wall just above the
sink has become very splashed and
it may be possible to repaint this
part in the same shade without re-
decorating the entire room.
Nothing will save wear on floor
linoleum so effectively as couple
of coats of the best grade spar
varnish. The floor must be en-
tirely clean and dry, and forty
eight hours elapse between apply
ing the first and second coat. This
work must be done rapidly on a
day that is dry and warm, allowing
the windows to be open over night
for rapid drying.
No one piece of furnishing looks
SO dingy or SO disfguring as a
radiator whose metal paint has be-
come furnished. This is one of the
easiest of all tasks for the woman
painter. The necessary silver or
bronze paint powder and liquid
may be secured at any shop. Be-
fore starting to paint be sure the
radiator is well cleaned of any
loose dust between the coils. Lay
under the radiator large sheet
or piece of old soft cloth which
will entirely cover the floor. Use
fairly small flat brush, and place
your can of paint on an old tray.
Sit down on the floor and COM
mence work beginning at the top
and front of the coils and work
ing to the floor, up and down in
every case. This paint dries al
most instantly on the cold radiator.
Never allow a drop of this paint to
touch the floor, as it is almost inn
possible to take it off. Above all,
never apply regular oil paint to
any radiator or steam pipe, as the
paint will surely dry and flake off
when it is heated.
Stove pipes and the light metal
frame work of many Summer oil
stoves become rusty and unsightly.
They may be made like new by
scraping off the old paint or japan
finish with blunt knife and paint
remover, getting down to the
original metal work. Be sure 1t is
dry and clean. Then rapidly apply
black lacquer metal paint with
rapid strokes. This also dries in
stantly. Work on warm windy
day, and allow no dust until the
article is dry. Not only oil stoves,
but portable oil heaters, hot air
registers and the grill work of
ranges will be benefited by this
paint beauty bath.
Home decoration need not be
limited to the use of paint. There
are many water tints for wall
surfaces which are readily mixed
and even more readily and easily
applied, even by the home expert.
Bedrooms and children's rooms
lend themselves especially to these
light tints, which are sanitary and
very soft and charming in their
effects. A simple stencil in
another color may be applied later.
Be sure that the wall is clean and
adequately sized with the right
mixture; varnish or hard oil is
good for smooth, glossy wall
finish, while all spots and stains
first need a special coat to make
them unnoticeable. Follow the
directions on the particular water
tint used and always work from
the ceiling down back and forth
across the room. The work should
be rapid and even in order not to
show brush marks.