Evening star., 1942-04-11
First Aid
For the
|AMngHouse
By ROGER B. WHITMAN.

@. My floors are very black. We
wash the mwith plain water and do
not wax them, because our baby Is
learning to walk. What can I use
to make them look little lighter?
A. If the floors are in very bad
condition, the present finish should
be scraped off and a new finish
put on. If it Is not possible
for you to scrape, you might try
wiping the foor with turpentine;
1t may loosen up enough of the dirt
to make the floors little lighter.
Water should not be used on floors.
Cement for Broken Marble.
Q. What cement can I use for a
white marble statue that has been
broken?
A. You can use white lead paste,
mixed with little spar varnish.
This may take two months or more
to harden thoroughly. but it will
make firm joint. When putting the
broken pieces together, strap them
IN position with surgeons tape.
Lack of Draft in Coal Range.
@. When I build a fire in my coal
range, the whole thing smokes. I
clean out the f1ue and range every
time, but it smokes on the top, back
and sides. What is the trouble?
A. There is not enough draft. pos
sibly because the chimney f1ue is
clogged. Let down a brick on a
rope, or else a tire chain, swing
ing 1t from side to side, to clear out
possible birds nests or any other
obstruction. 1t may be that the
chimney is too low; or there may
be openings in the chimney that
admit air and spoil the draft. Also
each fire should have its own fiue,
for more than one fire connection to
chimney flue will ruin the draft
OF the others.
Electric Shocks.
O.. We recently purchased large
broadloom carpet. We live in rem
ovated apartment house, and when
ever we come in contact with a
metal object or another person a
slight electric shock Is suffered.
What can be done to free ourselves
of this annoyance?
A. The one method is to humidity
the air in your apartment. Put
water pans on your radiators or do
anything else to remove the extreme
dryneSs.
Stained Sides Of Oven.
@. We have a large combination
coal and gas stove in our home
The panels on either side of the
coal oven are made of porcelain and
are streaked with a dirty brownish
color We would like to clean these
panels.
A. If the discoloration is not un-
der the porcelain it may be removed
by rubbing with a paste of scratch
less securing powder and water.
Some household ammonia added to
the paste may help. Wiping with
strong solution of javelle water may
help further.
Whistling Faucet.
@. Why Is 1t that every time the
hot-water faucet is turned on
loud whistling noise takes place?
A. A loose or worn washer and
sometimes a worn seat in the faucet
may cause this noise. Try replacing
the washer; also check the condi-
ton of the faucet.
Kitchen Fan.
@. If gas range oven is not con-
nected with a f1ue, will a fan for
drawing out fumes, etc, satisfac-
torily dispose of smokeNrom roast
ing?
A. Yes, providing it is sufficiently
large.
Why Varnish Turns White.
@. Could you tell me why my out
side vanished doors turn white
during the winter months? A
painter told me dampness is the
reason.
A. An outside door should be
coated with a top-quality spar
varnish. In your case the cause of
the whitening may be due to a poor
quality spar varnish or a varnish
made only for wood interiors. The