Evening star., 1941-11-29
First
For the
AMng House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.

IrouDle WIN the cruStlng OF Kettle
In which the water is boiled. Th
cruStlng can be Softened by Soakin,
FOR few hours with a half-and- hal
mixture OF cider vinegar and water
and then bringing it to a boil. An
other method is to mash two o.
three raw potatoes in the kettle, tt
add little water, and after Soakine
all night, to bring to a boil Neither
Of these methods. however, can bt
counted on TO clean the crust from
the spout OF kettle, and for this
reason, when hard water is used, ii
Is better TO boil it in an open sauce
pan or some other vessel that can be
easily cleaned after use in this way
Keeping an oyster or clam shell in
the kettle will check the CruSting
Another idea is TO cut piece of
linen to fit the inside of the kettle
Weighing il down with a stone or
oyster she'll The crust will deposit
on the linen rather than on the
kettle. When it is stiffened, it can
be replaced In some parts of the
country it is the custom to use in
expensive Tin kettles that can be
thrown out when crusted, although
with the defense priorities now in
force, this may not be practical,
Leaking Easement Windows.
O Wind blows through our steel
easement windows in winter, even
when they are locked. How can 1
make them close tight?
A. You can get metal weather.
strips for that purpose from any of
the large manufacturers, or dealers
IN building materials. These are
made to snap into the grooved edges
nj the sashes. If YOU know the man.
ufacturers of the windows, ask them
for suggestions.
Chimney Lining.
q The f1ue lining of my chimney
tell apart. The man who cleaned
away the pieces said that with an
oil burner flue lining was not
needed. Should the chimney be re-
ilned?
A. 1t is not needed if your oil
burner is properly adjusted, and if
the chimney itself is tight and in
good condition. If the mortar has
begun to drop out and there are
leaks you will get an odor of oil
through the house. If YOU have any
doubts. vcI will do we'll to have the
chimney refined.
Galvanized Cutters.
q Galvanized cutters were in
,talled on our house two months
ago. We were advised not to paint
hem until spring. because the GAL
'anizing would eat into the paint. 1t
that advisable?
A. New galvanizing will not hold
paint. but can be made TO do SO by
riping with cider vinegar. followed
~ washing Two months exposure
should put the galvaniZing into con-
Fition for painting without any
other treatment.
Wood Dust.
Q. We recently built wood ga
age Last week we noticed wood
lust on the hood Of the car We
leaned it off. but the same thing
happened the following day. It
eems TO be the work of a wood
'ating insect. How can We get rid
VI the pest?
A. You will find holes or cracks in
he woodwork above the car. and
oaking kerosene into them will kill .
INV insect that NAV be inside The
Insects may be borers or carpenter
ntS. but you can be sure that they
IRE not termites.
Oak Furniture.
q. 7 am scraping and sandpaper-
ng all varnish from my oak fur
,iture. How can I make it lighter
n color? How should l finish It?
want to show the grain. What is
picked oak" finish? How should
Magnolia and gum be finished?
A. All OF the natural color of the
'ak can be taken out with a COM
nercial wood bleach. TO be had
through large paint stores. lnstruc-
ions should be carefully followed.
After drying. you can finish with
lear lacquer or colorless varnlsh.
n picked oak finish the bare
rood. after sandpapering is painted
nth white paste filler thlnned with
TO the consistency OF
'aint. While still wet. the surface
/ wiped of with a coarse cloth,
cross the grain, to force the filler
nto the pores. After drying. the
nrface is rubbed with fine Sandpa-
,rr and then finished with clear
arnish. Special finishes for the less
sual types of wood can be learned
rom the National Association OF
'aint. Lacquer and Varnish Manu-
scturers. Washington.
Soiled Bathinette.
e The rubber in my babv's bath
nette is dirty looking. even after
crubbing with soap and water. How
an I clean II?
A. Your best plan is TO get a new
Ibber. which you will find ready
,ade at any large department store.
Sewer Gas.
. Since my house was built ii
ears ago. I have been having trou-
le with the escape Of sewer gas.
lot long ago I was awakened by the
dor, and going to the cellar found
hat the water was out of the trap.
touring in bucket Of water stopped
he trouble for the time being,
Plumbers cannot account for II.
What can l do? The gas also is no.
iced in the upstails bathroom.
A. When your plumbing was in
tailed. the plumber may have
allied to include vent pipes With
VT these. discharge of water from
Upstairs creates a partial vacuum
hat sucks all of the water out of
he traps on the floors below. He
nay have put in the vent pipes up
tairs and neglected to connect the
cellar drain. Another possibility is
break in the drain that permits !
l.