Evening star., 1954-01-14
Readers Clearing House SIS; s;;'=;;; s::"'4 :,
FLEA SOLUTION.
MRS. J. S. L.. Hyattspille)

FLEA SOLUTION.
mrs. J. S. L., HyGttSDille)
I can really appreciate your
plight with the fieas in the
basement, having had the same
trouble myself some years ago.
They had gotten into all our.
wool rugs and mohair uphol-
stery. purchased an insect
spray made by one of the lead
ing gasoline and oil companies
beginning with "GD. Close
your basement up tightly and
spray the entire floor and fur
nishings until there is a heavy
mist of the spray throughout.
Leave the basement closed
overnight or all day and I be-
lieve you'll find that you are
rid of your tleas. Good luck.
(E. S., Silper Spring.
Here is an answer for Mrs.
r. Mel. Of .Hyattsville on how
to get rid Of fleas in the base
ment. It really works. The
bomb types Of sprays are use
less as they may kill a few
of the full grown. leaving the
eggs and larvae untouched.
Sweep the basement thorough
ly. destroying all paper cartons.
litter, etc.. where eggs or larvae
might be concealed. Then
spray the floor and lower l.
foot of the wall space thorough
ly with per cent DOT in oil.
This can be bought under sew
eral trade names at any drug
store. This will leave a resid-
ual Aim which will kill eggs
and larvae for many months
unless washed OF. Our base
ment, which has q cement
floor. was sprayed last July,
and neither the basement nor
the cats had one fiea since.
The Department Of Agricul-
ture says this treatment should
last a year if properly done.
preferably in May or early
June. used 2 quarts of spray
on a basement rs feet by IS
feet.
However. this is a very poor
time of year to do the job be-
cause of the cold weather.
These mixtures are plainly
marked combustible. The pilot
lights on furnace and water
heater should be turned of and
the place thoroughly aired be-
fore the service is resumed. It
is not necessary to keep the
windows closed while spraying.
as contact. not fumes. will do
the job.
Do not use on asphalt tile or
other surfaces affected by pc
troleum solvents. Do not use
on animals. These mixtures
may have a toxic effect on
some animals. especially cats,
because they lick their fur.
Any cat owner following this
advice should keep the animal
of the basement floor for at
least a week following this
treatment. It is also wise to
wipe of with soap and water
any slick painted or porcelain
surface where the oily film will
not soak in. Don't forget to
give the animal responsible for
the fleas a good bath with a
suitable flea shampoo.
Now I need help. I have a
splnner-type washing machine.
not automatic. The spinner
basket should have been re-
moved each time and cleaned
and dried. It was neglected
and now the basket and its
drive shaft are stuck together.
I have tried soaking this COM
partment of the washer in hot
water and every suitable SOL
vent can think Of, vinegar,
ammonia. etc. but nothing has
worked. Have any Of the read
ers had this problem. and II so.
how did they solve it?
+
HELP!
mrs. X. J. H., Fails Church.
My small son opened his
older sisters oil painting set
and painted the wallpaper.
How can remove the oil paint
from the wall paper?
Will the lady who sent in
information about canning
apples with aspirin and cold
water please answer two ques-
tions? Must the jar tops be
sealed so that they cannot be
removed by hand? I am un-
able to make any of mine seal,
even with heating the lids.
Do the apples get brown on
top?
:S 1S-;