Evening star., 1939-10-14
First Aid
For the
AHing House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN


0uestion-The work surface or
the built-in cupboards in my kitchen
is in natural wood. The wood has
darkened and spotted with age and
use. Could you tell me how to
bleach it3
Answer-The hoard can be
bleached with hot saturated Solu-
ton Of oxalic acid. Apply literally
and allow to stand overnight. Rinse
off all traces of the bleach by several
washings with clear water. When
the wood has dried thoroughly 1t
can be given soaking coat of raw
linseed oil, the surface oil being
wiped off after an hour or 50. After
three applicat tions the board will be
highly resistant to further staining.
Wood Over Concrete.
Question-In a house that ! con-
template buying there is no cellar.
The lowest floor is concrete with oak
flooring I am told that a flooring
of this kind Is unhealthy and that
eventually the oak flooring will
warp. What do you think OF this?
Answer-1f the concrete floor is
laid on the earth, even with a foun-
dation of cinders, there should be a
waterproof layer as protection to
flooring laid on top. Without this
proection the wood will inevitably
warp and rot and the floor will be
cold and damp. If the concrete
floor is not laid on the earth: that
is, If there is an air space under it,
the concrete will be dry and wood
flooring on top will not be harmed.
Automatic Fire.
Question-An oil burner repre-
sentative says that my steam boiler,
now fred by coal, is unsuitable for
an oil burner because it is built in
three sections. An attachment to
make it more efficient is suggested.
What do you think of this? Would
coal stoker be more advantageous?
Answer-Ihe firebox of boiler
should be of such size that atomized
oil will be completely consumed be-
fore striking the surfaces. Too
small f1rebox is a common reason
for lack of success with an oil
burner and this is likely to be the
case with your small boiler. I should
prefer a buckwheat stoker and
suggest that you consider installing
one.
Cleaning Furniture.
0uestion--How can I clean dust
and dirt from a birds-eye maple
dresser?
Answer-Wash with thick suds of
any pure soap, follow with a clean
cloth damp with clear water, and
rub dry with cheesecloth.
Food Weevils.
Question: have found food
weevils in package of cereal that
has been opened and partly used.
The package was on the kitchen
shelf during the hot weather. How
can I prevent the insects from in
Testing other food packages on the
same shelf?
AnsWer-Ihe package in which
the insects were found should be
thrown out. All other packages of
dry food should be examined and
II infested should also be thrown
out, Wash the shelves with hot
soapsuds and in the future keen
your packages of dry cereals, nuts.
spaghetti, etc, in tight tin boxes
or empty the contents into Mason
jars with tight covers.
Powderpost BEETLES.
Question-The wooden columns IN
my porch are apparently being eaten
by insects that I have been told
are powderpost beetles. In places the
wood is f1aky and dust is falling
out. What should I do?
Observation-Disclosures beetles de-
velop inside wood. and reduce it to
dust. The infected posts should be
replaced, either completely or in part.
depending on the extent of the dam
age, Other woodwork in the neish-
porhood should be examined. Wood
that is badly wormholed should be
replaced. If only a few holes are