Evening star., 1941-12-06
First Aid
For the
AiIing House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.

BY ROGEK h. WHITMAN
Brass and metal beds are no
longer as popular as they used to be
and are liable to date" a room that
would otherwise be modern in effect.
One way to modernize them Is to
cover the head and foot with slip
covers, preferably matching the
curtains and upholstery. Another
idea is to make Use OF sheets OF
thin plvwood cut to size and shape
and covered with quilted fabric.
Some Of the large department stores
have something of this sort in stock.
It Is usually possible to cut a high
head. although to many people a
high head is an advantage for
reading in bed. The metal on a
brass bed is usually so thin that II
can easily be cut with hacksaW
or even a triangular file. Strength
and stiffness is given by the rooS
within. These also can be sawed
of. A strip of wood going from
side to side can be fitted without
much difficulty and will supply any
stiffness that may have been lost
through removing the metal In
many designs the brass pieces are
held only by screwed ornaments at
the TOP. With these removed the
rods within can be cut on 10 any
desired height. Paint or enamel Is
an appropriate finish and no sign
will be left of the original erect.
The first step in this should be to
rub the metal with sandpaper for
the cleaning of the surface and also
to provide tooth with which the
first coat can make a good bond.
All possible traces of grease can be
taken off by wiping with turpentlne.
Attic Insula ton.
O. am planning to build room
In nv attic. There is a full floor
that was recently insulated with
blovn-in rock wool. Should the
inside of the roof first be insulated?
A. Yes. One way to do 1t would
be to build the walls and ceiling OF
the room with one or two thick
nesses Of insulating boards.
Soiled Floor.
@ NV floors are finished with
esrnish and wax They are subject
to much wear and tear. l wash
them with warm water and soap
before waxing. The varnish Is
wearing away. How else can l keep
them clean? What will remove
marks made by rubbing heels?
A. After cleaning and thorough
driving put on coat OF varnish ana
follow with two thin coats OF paste
floor wax. each we'll rubbed after
20 minutes for drying. You can
then keep the floor clean with
LIQUID wax, not water wax or the
self polishing kind, for these have
another purpose. Soiling ana
marking will be in the waxing. which
the LIQUID wax will remove. Put on
more paste floor wax when wear
begins to show.
Damp Basement.
@. In a building that I have Just
bought. the front room in the base
ment was evidently intended for
playroom. There has been a musty
or moldy odor in it that would ike
to eliminate. How can ! get rid OF 1t?
A. The odor is from rotting wood.
Somewhere in the structure you WILL
find wood that is damp from con-
tinual contact with the earth. very
possibly it is from wood floor that
has not been waterproofed. This
rotting wood should be replaced by
something more permanent or
should be made waterproof. Consult
q building contractor.
Worn Copper Finish.
@ The outside finish Of a copper
kettle is wearing off. Where can I
have it redone?
A. Any garage can give you the
name and address of plating shop.
Removing Veneer.
O. How can veneer be removed
from an oak desk? This has Clipped,
but in most places sticks terribly
tight.
A. Scrape of the finish to the
hare wood, or use a varnish remover,
so that moisture can penetrate. and
Law cloths damp with water over the
veneer that you want to take on,
For quicker action, press the damp
cloth with a hot iron: steam that
forms will soften the glue rapidly.
Color Of Floor.
@. In selecting inlaid linoleum for
nv kitchen. the pattern that I chose
is much too light With two small
children and a small kitchen. some
times have to wash the floor twice
dav. I am told that varnish wears
off and turns linoleum yellow. /
can't wax the surface. because the
children might fall. What can you
suggest?
A. One possibility would be to use
runners on the traffic lanes, some
thing light enough to be easily
shaken. and that would be non-skld. |.
Another possibility would be to mn.
ish the floor with a good grade OF
floor enamel. This should be stlp-
pled in two tones. light and dark tan,
for example. In preparing for it, all
traces of wax and grease should nrst
be removed, for paint would not hold
over them.
X X
Note: Mr.. whitman Is sorry he
can no longer answer personal
letters. He does, however, oner
readers leaflets on a variety OF
subjects. Today's leaf1et Is en-
titled "Patining and Covering .
Concrete Porch" Be sure to send
3-cent stamped, self-addressed
envelope with your leaf1et request
to Mr.. Whitman, p. o. Box $50,
Times Square Station. New York,
n. Y. Leaflets cannot be mailed
unless self addressed envelope
bears the correct amount OF
postage.