Evening star., 1940-12-14
Mst Aid
For the
AHingHouse
By ROGER b. WHITMAN,

@. I have an oval fshpool by 6
feet. Could the fish be left in it
over the winter? Should it be
covered up, or should the water be
drained off?
A. If the pool freezes to the
bottom, the Ssh will die, but if
water remains in it under the ice,
they will survive. For protection.
lay several plankS over the pool and
bank high with dead leaves, held
in place with chicken wire. Snow
will be an added protection. A
small opening should be left at one
end for air. to be covered in bad
weather with a bag of dead leaves.
If the sides of your pool are vertical,
float one or two logs in the water,
running the length of the pool, to
take up the compression that will
come through freezing.
Bleach for Floors.
Q. Hardwood floors were badly
treated, and at the doorWays are a
dirty gray. Sanding does not clean
them. Could we use a bleach?
A. A bleach would be worth while
trying. Use oXalic acid crystals dis
solved in water, as much as will be
taken up. Apply hot and allow to
remain for several hours Follow
by rinsing with clear water. If this
does not work the only answer is
more sanding, or possibly hand
scraping. Be careful when using
oxalic acid, for it is poison.
Wax in Varnish.
@. Would it be good to put bees
wax in varnish to make floor shiny?
A. That would not work. for the
wax would keep the varnish from
hardening. Finish the floor with
good quality floor varnish, and then
put on two thin coats of paste floor
wax, each well rubbed after time
for hardening.
Marks on a Floor.
q. How can I take marks out of
q floor made by pushing bed?
A. If the marks are only in the
finish, rub them up with paste floor
wax. If the floor is soft, and the
marks are dents. they cannot be
taken out. Replace the metal cast
ers with casters made of hard felt
or composition.
Cracking Down on Reaches.
@. have a heavy pasteboard
wardrobe. There are crevices where
the parts come together, and reaches
get in. How can I keep them out?
A. Cover the cracks and crevices
with strips of heavy gummed paper.
Send me your name and address
for a leafet on the control Of
reaches.
Polishing Oynx.
@. How can I restore the polish
OF an onyx clock?
A. Use powdered rottenstone, ap-
piled with piece of leather wet
with water.
Back Draft and SCOT.
Q. run an oil burner, and lately
have had considerable trouble with
my chimney, the f1ue of which IS
six inches. There is a bad back
draft which started only few
months ago, when SCOT formed all
over the house. We had the chimney
cleaned out. and extended the
height. This was useless. The
burner was installed two years ago.
Is there any remedy for the SCOT
problem? have been told the SCOT
Is caused by the flue's being too
small. But if this is so, why did it
work with the old burner?
A. Check the chimney for possible
distractions, such as a birds nest.
II the present burner has been work.
ing satisfactorily for the past two
years, and the trouble is only recent
the cause may be a worn-out nozzle,
a defective transformer or delayed
ignition Or you may be using the
wrong grade of oil Adjustment
of the air and oil mixture should
stop excessive sooting. Your service
man should check the burner parts.
To keep a burner running smoothly,
regular inspection by competent
service man should be part of the
household program.
Mortar Mixture.
@. For mortar, what is the right
proportion of sand, cement and lime?
A. One part portland cement,
three parts clean sand and lime
In the proportion of 20 per cent of
the cement.
Reputtying.
@. I no longer have some one to
DO the house jobs for me and am
trying to look after things myself.
At present I am confronted with re-
puttying storm windows. How
should proceed?
A. For reputtying, all old putty
that is cracked and loose should be
scraped out. A handy tool for this
is a beer-can opener, which I am
sure your grocer will give you If
there is no paint on the wood against
which the new putty will rest, put
on a thin coat of house paint or
plain linseed oil. You can get a good
quality putty from any paint store
of good standing. Take a Wad in
your hand and roll it into a thin
strip as long as pane of glass.
Lay it into place, press it in with
your fingers, and smooth the surface