Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-01
First Aid
For the
AiGng House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.


Question: Could you suggest q
color scheme for our kitchen? We
plan to paint it ourselves. The
walls are now green with ivory
woodwork. The kitchen equipment
Is black and white. We should like
to add some red.
Answer feel that green Is too
dark a shade for the kitchen walls.
MY own kitchen is cream all over:
walls, ceiling and woodwork. On
the cabinet doors there are designs
In lacquer red, and we find the
effect very satisfactory. The range
is black and white, so that we start
about the same as you do. I can
recommend the combination, but
suggest that you use lacquer red
and not a great deal of it. In ad-
dition to the designs on the cab
met doors, which you can get with
stencils, you might try a stripe of
red on all Of the woodwork.
Most of the manufacturers of
high-grade paint publish booklets
on color combinations for different
rooms. Ask for one of these at the
paint store where you get your sup
plies.
Chalking Paint.
Question: Last spring I had my
closets painted. Now I notice white
marks on my silk and cloth dresses,
which brushes of easily, but are
most annoying. There is no damp
ness in the closets. We have never
had dampness or mold. What is
the cause and how can I over
come it?
Answer-You evidently used a
quality of paint that was not suf-
f1ciently permanent; the oils have
disappeared and left the surface in
the condition known as "chalky."
To check on this, rub your hand
down the wall. If white marks show
on it, it is from chalking. One rem
edy will be to apply a coat OF var
nish or of white shellac, which will
give a hard surface without any
great change in the color of the
paint. You could also use paint
Of a better quality.
Cleaning Awnings.
Question: My awnings are very
dirty from dust and stain after
five years in use How can I clean
them? Could I put them In wash
ing machine?
AnsWer-Awnings will stand any
kind of a washing process. If you
can get them into a washing ma
chine, that would be excellent
Otherwise, go at them with soap
and water.
Plugging = Lock.
Question: People in my house
sometimes push back the button
which leaves the vestibule door I'M
locked. Would putting solder over
the button stop this, or can you
offer a better way?
MISUNDERSTANDING will certainly
do the trick. Another idea would
be to take the lock out of the door,
to remove one side and to take out
the buttons and the rods connected
with them. which would not be at
all difficult.
Poor Plastering Job.
Question: Our house is built of
cement blocks and is about 20 years
old For a few years 1t was very
warm. but gradually the plaster
around the door castings and the
blocks directly above each door sift-
ed out. How can we reset these
blocks and castings so they will stay
and keep out the wind?
Answer-The only sure method
Is to dig out the mortar between the
blocks and to replace it with new.
The trouble probably comes because
the inside plaster is applied directly
to the blocks. This chills the plas-
ter, and there is condensation
against it from damp and warm air
In the house The remedy Is to
replace the plaster over lath on fur
ring strips so that there will be
an air space between the blocks
and the plaster.
Lemonade Stains.
Question: What will remove stains
made by lemonade on the white
porcelain top of a kitchen cabinet?
Answer-If the finish is in the
nature of an enamel, like an auto
mobile, the acid has eaten into it.
In that case, rubbing lightly with
very fine sandpaper may remove the
worst of the staining. If the stains
are very deep, reflnishing will be
necessary. For baked porcelain as
used on q range or top quality
refrigerator, use scratches clean
ing powder moistened with kero-
sene, and applied with plenty OF
elbow grease.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.