Evening star., 1942-02-28

THE EVENING s,
changed twice or moro every houl
and this would hardly be possibl.
with your furnace blower. OF course
the only way to get the real answe,
to this would be to try 1t out.
Drafty Steel Easements.
Q. The steel easements in my
house do not f1t tightly. I should
like to put on storm sash, but they
seem very expensive. Would 1t be
possible to get weather-strips?
A. strips can be had tc
snap into the grooves at the edges
Of the easements. Another plan that
works out well can be used on case
ments that are not opened during
cold weather. This Is to cover the
leaking joints with Scotch tape
which can be had at any stationer' s
or hardware store. Pulling down
the window shades and closing the
curtains will go far to cut the draft
iness and raise the temperature
Ut the room.
Cleaning . Statue
@. have a statue which does not
seem to be, marble. 1t is soiled and
have tried. to clean 1t without
success. What should I use?
A. First wash the statue with
soft water. Then 60 over it with
scratches cleaning powder and
water. which shuld take OF most If
not all Of the soiling. II necessary
this can be followed by bleaching
with a solution Of ounce Of
oxalic acid dissolved In ! quart Of
water. Allow this to act for min
ute or two and rinse of with clear
water.
Government Bulletins.
@. Please give me the titles Of
Government bulletins covering in
sulation, heating, heat losses, etc.
A. You will find these listed in
price list No. 72, publications Of
! Interest to Suburbanites and Home
Owners" which you can get for the
asking from the superintendent OF
documents, Washington.
Dyeing Rug.
@. I have a plain green rug that
would like to use IN a bedroom.
To match the walls it should be
much lighter and different shade.
Would it be possible to have it dyed
the shade that I want?
A. In order to dye it a lighter
shade than it Is now 1t would first
have to be bleached, which would
be a job for professional. Consult
any competent rug dealer.
Humidifier.
@. I have water containers be-
hind my radiators. but relative hui
midity remains below 80 degrees.
What kind of wick will evaporate
more water? The Job must be in
expensive.
A. Use the inexpensive bath towels
to be had at dime store. Lay wood
strips along the top Of the radiator,
put one end of the towel in the
water container, and spread the
other end over the strips. If you
are getting up to 80 per cent you
are doing well; anything much
higher than that may frost the win
dows on cold day.
Cleaning Lamp Shades.
Q. How can I go about cleaning
two silk lamp shades?
A. Run tepid water into the bath
tub, add a handful Of soap flakes
and immerse the shades In the solu-
ton; move them slowly back and
forth so that the solution goes
through the silk. When clean, dab
them with a bath towel and hang
them up to dry. This treatment
will take of bindings or ornaments
stuck on with glue, but after drying
they can be repasted.
Dry Return Pipe.
@. Is there any advantage In hav-
| ing a dry return on a one-pipe
steam system?
A. In a dry return water returns
to the boiler while still hot, requir-
| ing little additional heat to raise
1t to the boiling point. A dry return
pipe being exposed, leak Is imme-
diately visible. A leak in the part Of
a wet return pipe buried under the
floor may not be discovered until
all Of the water in the boiler has
been lost through the leak, or
through the constant dropping Of
the boiler water level.
Leaky Roof.
@. The country house I Just
bought has roof covered with
asphalt tar paper. the type that
comes in rolls. While there are no
visible breaks or open seams. the
roof leaks in a number Of places.
The roof is laid over shiplap. Would
you advise rerooflng with asphalt
shingles, or Is there some other
method that is economical?
A. A roof that has developed a
number of leaks should be reroofed.
A mopping on of a liquid asphalt
roof coating, while it is economical.
Will not be permanent. Asphalt
shingles or a new layer of roll roof
ing can be laid directly over your
present roofing, with more lasting
and satisfactory results.
Note: Mr.. Whitman h sorry
ne can no longer answer per-
sonal letters. He does, however,
offer readers leaflets on a variety
OF subjects. Today's leaflet tells
how to regulate the hot water
supply. Be sure to send q Scent
stamped, self-addressed envelope
with your leaflet 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.