Evening star., 1940-08-03
First Aid
For the
Aiing House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.


new shingles can be put on owe,
the old ones. Is this practical?
A. 1t is not only practical, but il
the modern way to do the job, for
it saves the cost of tearing of the
old shingles and of clearing up the
mess. The Red Cedar Shingle Bu-
reau, which has Offices in Chicago
and also in New York, issues instruc-
ton leaflets for doing the job
Manufacturers of asbestos shingles
asphalt shingles and others also
issue instructions, which can be had
from dealers.
Tarnish- Proofng.
@. How can silver that is not in
use be kept from furnishing?
A. If the silver Is to be put away
make bags of canton flannel or fan
helette to hold 1t, and soak in a
solution made in the proportion of
one-half-pound cadmium acetate in
a gallon of water. Allow to drip
dry Silverware must be thoroughly
washed before using. If the silver
is ornamental, such as candlesticks,
and exposed but not handled, pol
iSh it, wash it with benzine to take
off all traces of polish and grease
be careful of flre-and then coat
with clear lacquer, which can be
had at a paint store.
Unpainted Shingles.
@. 7 have acquired a house in
the country with walls covered with
cedar shingles many years old, but
never painted. The shingles are very
weatherbeaten, but sound. How
should I treat it and what kind of
paint should I use?
A. Use any good quality outside
paint. The first coat should con-
tain sufficient quantity of linseed
oil to stop excessive absorption by
the dry shingles. When prepared
paint Is used add the amount of raw
linseed oil recommended by the
manufacturer on the label of the
can. Then coat small area. If
the wood is highly absorbent the
paint will dry very fiat and more
linseed oil should be added. The
paint, if satisfactory, will dry a semi
fiat finish. A gloss in the first coat
will be sign that the paint con-
tains more oil than is necessary and
should be thinned with turpentine.
Roots in a Sewer.
@. How can keep tree roots from
growing into my sewer?
A. One way is to put washers of
sheet copper in the joints of the Sec
tions. Another way is to wrap heavy
tar paper around each joint, secur-
ing it with copper wire.
Linoleum Cement.
@. A month ago linoleum was ce-
mented to new floor without using
a felt lining The edges of the
boards have risen and now make
slight ridges in the linoleum. I plan
to take up the linoleum and lay it
again, after sandpapering the ridges
in the boards. What would be the
best way to clean the cement from
the linoleum and frorn the floor?
A. The ordinary liroleum cement
can be softened with water and can
then be scraped up Waterproof
cement can be softenec with turpen-
tine. Great care must be used in
taking up linoleum that has been
cemented, for it NAV tear. Begin
at one corner of strip and loosen
the nnoleum with a broad putty
knife If possible, work water un-
derneath to soften the cement. Work
gently. Rough handling and sudden
Jerks will tear the material. For
best results have the linoleum taken
up by some one with experience.
Wasp Nests.
@. How can wasps and their nests
be removed from forsythia bushes?
A. Wrap a wad of cloth around
the end of long pole At dusk,
when the wasps are in their nests,
dip the cloth into kerosene and let
it dribble on the nests, especially at
the openings. If the nests are of
the large paper kind, wait until dark
and then put large paper bag over
the nests, closing it around the neck
The nest can then be broken of,
soaked in kerosene and burned.
Stained Smoothing Iron.
@. When ironing q necktie, the
tie burned and left e large brown
stain on the iron. How can it be
removed?
A. Use any good metal polish.
Water Stained Wall Paper.
@. What will take stains from
wallpaper that is not washable?
A. Unfortunately it cannot be
done. The only remedy is to get
a piece of wallpaper of the same
pattern and to put it over the stains.
A good paperhanger can do the job
SO neatly that it will not be no
ticed. The trick is in not cutting
the paper, but in tearing it from
the back so that a feathery edge is
left. The piece of paper, of course,
should match the pattern. When
torn the piece of paper is well coated
with paste and then slid into posi-
ton. Using a brush, it is forced
into contact by brushing from the
center toward the edges. Paste that
oozes out should be wiped off.
Bird Bath.
@. I should like to use an old but
ter bowl in the garden as a bird
bath. How should it be treated to
withstand water and weather condi-
tions?
A. take for granted that the
bowl is wood. The under side should
be painted with liquid asphalt and
the sides, also, if the bowl is to be
sunk into the earth. The inside
should be painted with melted par
af1ne. Before doing this the bowl
should be left in the hot sun for
a few hours, so that the wood will
be thoroughly warmed. No bird
bath should be so deep that small
birds might drown in it.
Termites.
q. There are termites in a tele-
phone pole in my garden. The tele-
nhone company, after investigation