Evening star., 1940-05-18
First Aid
For the
Aiing House
BY ROGER D. WHITMAN.

the white woodwork in my bed
rooms. Is there any wax prepara-
ton that can be used over this new
paint which will preserve 1t so that
1t will only need dusting instead Of
washing with strong solutions?
"A. A thin coat OF paste wax. well
rubbed, applied over a paint that is
dry and hard will have q tendency
to prevent the penetration of dirt
into the paint. A note of caution;
never use strong solutions Of any
kind to clean painted surfaces. A
good quality paint needs only to
be washed with suds Of q mild soap,
wiped with clean, damp cloth and
then wiped dry.
Painting Canvas Deck.
q. The sun porch off the second
floor OF my new house sprung a
leak through its canvas covered
floor. My builder tells me the
canvas should be painted once a
year. My hardware man suggests
. coating Of neatsfoot oil, before
applying the deck paint. What is
your opinion?
A. Your builder is correct. But
unless the roof gets an unusual
amount of wear, it should not be
necessary to paint the deck every
year.
Leaking Tank.
q. How can stop the leaking Of
water IN the tank of my bathroom?
We had the plumber in several
times to put new balls in the tank,
but after short time it always
begins to leak again.
A. The seat for the rubber ball
may be slightly worn, having rough
or sharp edges which cause undue
wear. 1t is also possible that the
rubber ball Is of poor quality. If
new ball stops leakage for a while,
the trouble may be either at the
seat or In the quality of the rubber.
Sharp edges can be made smooth
by filing or rubbing with a car
borundum stone.
Kitchen Color.
Q. My kitchen is now white, and
I have grown tired of it, for it is so
d1mcult to keep it looking right.
What would be an effective color?
The kitchen is very large and has
considerable traffic.
A. A light cream should be salts
factory. Use enamel which has a
glossy and china-like surface that
does not soil readily and is easy to
clean. Put touches of color in the
curtains and elsewhere.
S0undproofinx.
q. Please advise me how to make
q room as nearly soundproof as pos
sible. What is the best method, and
the least expensive? Would it help
to have double windows? How could
such a room be ventilated?
A. Making room soundproof or
nearly so is an expensive undertak-
Ing. 1t involves considerable con-
structlon, also the installation of
double windows and a soundproof
door. A fair percentage of sound
transmission can be prevented by
lining the walls and ceiling with
rigid insulating board The walls
and ceiling then are furred out.
then covered with another layer of
insulating board Windows can be
provided with tight fitting storm
sash. Ventilation will be possible
only with mechanical type of win
dow ventilator which is equipped
with a mountaineering material.
Antique Finish.
q. I have q piece of walnut bed
room furniture that wish to paint
white, with an antique finish.
Should first remove the veneer and
stain, and should I put on a first
coat Of white?
A. If the present finish on the
furniture is in good condition and
has a coating of varnish, begin by
cleaning of all traces of wax and
furniture polish by wiping with tur-
pentine. Dull the gloss of the var
nish by rubbing lightly with very
f1ne sandpaper. Wipe off the dust
with benzine, being very careful of
fire. Over a dark walnut color you
will need to apply two ground coats
OF paint, sandpapering smooth when
the paint is dry. After sanding,
wipe oil the dust. Then apply coat
OF glaze, which is like thin varnish
slightly tinted. While the glaze is
still wet, wipe with soft cheesecloth
in such way as to remove prac-
tically all of 1t from the fiat sur
faces, but leaving some of it in the
carvings and mouldings.
Cleaning Wallpaper.
@. Wallpaper over radiators and in
the corners is soiled but elsewhere
is in perfect condition. How can it
be cleaned?
A. At hardware store you can
get a dough-like material intended
for cleaning wallpaper, it is rolled
and kneaded on the paper and picks
up the dirt. Soiling of wallpaper
over radiator is due to the collec-
ton Of dust on the under and back
parts of the radiator. 1t can be pre-
vented by frequent cleaning. A
radiator shelf, fitting tightly against
the wall, and as much above the
radiator as the radiator is deep will
throw the air forward and will thus
prevent soiling.
White Finish for Oak.
Q. plan to make small table of
oak with tile top. How can I get
whitish effect on the wood? Should
! finish with varnish or wax?
A. Make your table Of kind of
oak with light natural color. Paint
with white filler or white lead
thinned with turpentine, after few
minutes wipe the surface clean,
leaving the filler in the pores. When
dry smooth with fine sandpaper.
Finish with clear varr,iSh or with