Evening star., 1941-11-01
Godgets
New Cement
Exponds Slightly
When Drying
Nv HILSON MUNSEY.

BY hILSON MI NSE1.
Prom time to time in the life OF
the average homeowner, the need
arises for an all-purpose cement
that actually will do the job. So
many things fall apart and unless
tney are repaired at once they will
be abandoned eventually because
they will 90 to pieces altogether. 1t
Is the old story of the needed but un-
supplied nail in the shoe of the horse
that lost the battle. The home
owner need not lose battle against
disinteeration if he is wise
The preparation is made in pow
der forns and requires only the ad-
dition OF water in the prescribed
amount to make it ready for use.
This cernent has one very unusual
quality. 1t will expand as it dries.
This means that it actually acts as a
wedge TO hold the cemented article
firmly in place. The expansion is
not very great. of course, only about
0002 of an inch in each cubic inch,
but that is sufficient to fill in the
blank spaces when. for example. a
chair rune is cemented.
The material upon which this ce-
ment is used must be wetted down
thoroughly for the cement to do its
best work; otherwise, the dry sur
faces will draw the water from the
mixture and destroy its usefulness.
1t has numerous uses around the
house. 1t can be used to fill that
space that always seems to develop
between the bathtub and the wall.
II there are any cracks around the
shower stall or the medicine cabinet
this material can be used effectively.
1t also is useful for setting tile in
the wall or floor, or for attaching
wall fixtures.
Cracked tile, terrazzo. marble,
wood. metal or concrete also are on
the list of possible uses. 1t can also
be used for anchoring bolts, screws
or railings.
The material is waterproof and
acid resistant. 1t is white, but it
can be colored or tinted to match its
surroundings When 1t has set 1t
can be painted or stained. The mix
ture can be made with just enough
water to make 1t workable. or it can
be prepared so that it can be poured
into the crevice to be filled. but in
any case. 1t must have something 10
expand against to be effective.
Cleaning Marble.
Marble, while very decorative
and useful material is difficult TO
clean Acid will clean It. but at the
same time it will roughen the sur
face and make it more susceptible
to the accumula ton of dirt. Soaps
leave film that destroys the natu-
raj beauty of the finish by dulling
it. ANY cleanser containing salt or
allied substances will cause the mar
BILE to spall or flake off and thus de-
ktroy it. There is preparation that
is especially prepared for the sole
purpose of cleaning marble. spe-
cialist in its own line.
1t will not in any way harm the
finish nor will it destroy the marble
itself. A pound of it will clean from
200 to 1.50O square feet Of surface.
and even then the cleaner can be re-
covered and used again.
Six or eight parts of water are
mixed with one part of the powder
Lukewarm or cold water is used, but
not hot water. The mixture is
stirred until thoroughly dissolved
All loose dust must be brushed from
the surface of the marble. Then the
mixture is applied with sponge or
brush. working it we'll into every
nook and crevice as well as the fiat
surface OF the marble to be cleaned
The surface then is rinsed with clean
water and polished with a dry cloth
or chamois.
Paint Odors.
Recently l was given a tip on the
removal of paint odors from newly
painted room by member of the
research laboratory of one of the
largest manufacturers of paint in
this country He discovered the
remedy himself only to find out that
1t had been in use in Great Britain
for we'll over a century.
He says that if onions are shred
ded or cut into very small pieces
and then heaped on a plate as
loosely rs possible and placed in the
room that has been painted. the
odor of both the paint and the on
ions will disappear. the one neutral
izing the other. The onion shreds
will dry up and can be thrown away.
Only large white onions should be
Used, the stronger the better. More