San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
HOUSEWIFE SUPPLIED
WITH PAINTS CAN DO
GOOD REPAIR WORK
Spring Cleaning Should In
clude Renovation of
Floors and Woodwork.

Spring cleaning in the up-to-date
homes does not merely mean getting
rid of all the superfluous dirt and
dust. Nor does it mean merely the
beating of rugs nor the Strengthening
of out-of-theway shelves and closets.
1t includes all Of these things, but in
addition it means actually putting the
house in spick and span condition
of shining brightness and newness.
The experienced housewife knows that
more than mere cleaning is required
10 make the whole house shine, 50
she arms herself with. supply of
paint, varnish and brushes and sets
aside day OF her spring cleaning for
the actual re-furbishing and renovat-
ing Of her home. She should be care
ful not 10 let her enthusiasm lead her
to attempt to re-finishing of articles
which had best be left for the pro-
fessional painter, but she will find
many little things which require
touching up and which she herself can
attend TO as efficiently as could the
professional painter.
The furniture and woodwork in
every room should be carefully ex-
amined for scars and scratches. If
the woodwork is white. as it is in
most modern dwellings, small brush
dipped in can of white enamel can
do all necessary repair work. The
woodwork should first be thoroughly
clcanscd. There are several methods
of cleaning. perhaps ordinary soap
and water is employed by most house
wives. but the most efficient and thor
ough method is TO use any of the ex.
cellent cleaning pastes on the market.
Directions come with most of these
cleaning pastes, and they are all used
The woodwork is thoroughly rubbed
with a damp cloth dipped in the
cleaning paste, and is then washed
with cloth wrung out in clean warm
water. The woodwork will reward the
worker by presenting spotlessly
clean and white surface. which needs
only TO be polished with soft, dry
cloth to be completely restored to its
original brand new appearance. The
scared or scratched places in the
woodwork will then be ready to be
touched up with the white enamel,
which should be applied in short,
quick strokes of the brush. and then
allowed TO dry for twelve hours, when
another coat may be applied if neces-
Sary.
Most of the furniture can be SUI
ficiently heightened by the applica-
itOn of an good furniture polish.
The polish should be applied sparing-
", but should be plcntifully rubbed
IN. because it is the careful rubbing
which restores the lustre. Some of the
furniture may require re-varnishing 20
make it look new, and If it is desired
TO change over an old finish to a new
shade. the gloss should be removed by
"halring,' that is rubbing with curled
sandpaper, No. GO. The surface should
then be stained with a good penetrat-
ing stain, and may then be vanished
with as many coats of varnish as are
necessary to secure the appearance dc.
sired, taking care TO allow each coat
OF varnish to dry thoroughly before
applying the next coat.
Floors usually can be restored 70
their original lustre by careful wax
ing. The general rules for the applicl.
ton of wax are simple enough to be
grasped by any clever housewife. and
a little experience will teach her lust
the proper amount of wax and rub
blng necessary to bring out the full
beauty Of the grain of the wood. DIFF
fcrent woods and different grains re-
quirc slightly varying amounts of wax
to produce satisfactory finish. ana
it will be found that some woods re-
quire several additional coats of wax
before they are satisfactory. If APP
piled by hand small quantity of the