H. I. S.
HOUSEHOLD HINTS
ITEMS OF INTEREST AND VALUE
There is nothing like spring sunshine for bringing out scratches and blemishes on the furniture and marks of wear and tear on carpets and upholstery. Possibly the housekeeper’s eye is quickened by the approach of housecleaning paraphernalia, but certain it is that the room that has worn a respectable air through the winter with the first ardent glance of old Sol will suddenly reveal no end of defects. For restoring furniture there are several excellent preparations to be found in the market, and nearly every housekeeper has her own preference among them. With one of the good oil polishes, a soft cloth, and plenty of what is popularly known as “elbow-grease,” very obstinate scratches will disappear. A vigorous rubbing with a clean flannel cloth should follow the application of the preparation in all cases.
A mixture of oil and turpentine is the best of restoratives for wood that has become grimy and dull. The usual formula is three parts of paraffine oil to one part of turpentine. Be sure that all dust is removed before the work begins. Moisten a flannel cloth in the mixture, and apply it to all parts of the wood. In obstinate cases let the preparation remain on the wood for a time then dust with rottenstone, moisten again with oil and rub quickly after the oil is applied. Do not let the rottenstone become dry, or it will still further blemish the wood. When the work with the rottenstone and oil is over, follow it up with rubbings with a clean, soft cloth and then with a polishing with the oil and turpentine described above. There is no objection to mixing the rottenstone and oil in a dish before the work begins.
To clean furniture that may have come from the second-hand store or store-room, where it has been badly soiled, make a mixture of beeswax and kitchen soap—an ounce of the wax to a quarter of a pound of the soap. Dissolve the two together over the fire and then stir in half an ounce of sal-soda. Stir the mixture until it is cold and then mix with it an equal part of turpentine. A little of this on a soft cloth will work wonders with old furniture.
The dark fumed oak of the Mission and other popular furniture shapes sometimes gets marred below its stain. In such cases common oil paints sold to amateurs for 10 cents and 5 cents a tube may be rung into service. Burnt umber and lampblack will give the fumed-oak shade. Drop the umber in a saucer and mix to the desired shade with lampblack, thinning with linseed oil. Burnt sienna and lampblack toned with yellow ochre will give mahogany color. Burnt sienna, burnt umber, lampblack, and yellow ochre mixed in the right proportions give black-walnut tone. Burnt sienna is about the color of cherry. Raw umber will answer for most light woods such as ash, oak, and maple. Use brush or cloth in putting on the colors, according to convenience.
Natural finished willow furniture may be cleaned with soapsuds in which borax has been dissolved. It should be applied with a scrubbing-brush. The pieces should be dried very speedily in the sun. Before the cleaning with water begins, the piece should be thoroughly dusted. This rule holds good with any article at all that is being washed. All loose dust should be shaken or brushed off or out before water is applied.