Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-30
First Aid
For the
Aiing House
By ROGER B. WHITMAN.

@. The attic in my bungalow IS
not finished. The floor beams are
2 by s inches and from 16 to 20
inches apart. Are they strong
enough to have flooring laid on
them?
A. Before laying any flooring you
should have braces put between
the beams to stiffen them. If the
beams are good quality wood, they
are strong enough for flooring, but
not to support heavy pieces of
furniture. They should be salts
factory for ordinary use.
Shoe Polish Stains.
@. What will remove black shoe
stains from vanished stairs and
from painted stairs, without re-
moving the varnish or the paint?
A. Soap and water might work.
If not, try a cloth damp with
turpentine, although this may dull
the gloss of the finish. Steel wool
would take off the stains, but of
course would cut the gloss. How
ever, you could restore the gloss with
paste floor wax.
Blue Roofing Paper.
@. I am told that the new
shade of blue roofing paper fades
lot, and that the dye on it is hard
on the paper. Is this so?
A. Blue dye is likely to fade. You
can get a blue roof with either
asbestos shingles or asphalt, shingles
surfaced with blue mineral. Neither
one will fade.
Glazing Chintz.
One of my readers has kindly sent
in her directions for glazing chintz.
which are as follows: Soak for a
half hour in lukewarm suds of pure
soap and press without rinsing.
Make boiled starch, not too stiff,
adding butter about the size of
walnut. Dip the chintz, dry very
thoroughly, then sprinkle for IRON
ing. I admit that the ironing is
not an easy task, but the result is
very satisfactory"
Cleaning Bricks.
@. How can I clean light colored
bricks on fireplace?
A. Scrub with any securing pow
der and follow by thorough rinsing.
If the bricks are porous, SCOT in the
depressions cannot be entirely re-
moved.
Easing Windows.
@. How can I ease up windows
that stick? The sticking is not
caused by paint.
A. You can ease the windows by
rubbing paraffine in the grooves.
Paint on Creosote.
@. Is it true that aluminium paint
can be applied over creosote?
A. Aluminium paint can be ap-
piled over creosote stain on shingles
and other woodwork, and has the
effect of sealing in the stain SO that
it will not bleed into later coats of
paint.
Bugs in Cedar.
Q. Outside bulwark and trim of
the porch of our summer home is
made of small cedar logs. We have
lately noticed deposits of wood dust
around these logs, which reappear
after brushing off. Is this from
termites or other insects?
A. That wood dust is unquestion-
ably from insect attack, but these
are not tern1ites If the bark Is
still on the logs, you will find that
1t is loosening. and that when you
take it off insect tracks are found
beneath All bark should be stripped
off rather than wait for the insects
to do it for you Wash with kero-
sene wherever you find traces of
the insects and after three or four
weeks finish with two coats Of spar
varnish.
Wrinkled Rug.
@. I had my broadloom rug
cleaned, but 1t came back lifeless.
It wrinkles and is a nuisance. How
can it be improved?
A A good rug cleaner would not
have turned out rug in that con-
dition. You have every reason to
COMPLAIN and to insist on his max
ing good. But if you must tackle
the job yourself, turn the rug over,
and tack it lightly to the floor
stretching 1t fairly tight. linen put
on a coat of orange shellac. Let
the shellac dry thoroughly before
putting the rug into use.
Ink-Stained Wall.
@. How can I take out ink stains
from a white painted wall?
A. Use ink eradicator, which you
can get at drug or stationery store.
Kerosene Burner.
@. am considering the installa-
ton of a kerosene burner in my
pipeless furnace. My house is
fairly well-planned five-room, story
and-a-half bungalow. The house
has been insulated by placing wool
bats in the attic floor. Are kero-
sene burners safe and reliable?
A. Kerosene burners can be safe.
Whatever burner you get see that
IL bears the approyal of the Ma