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Show P0INT3 ON HOUSE CLEANINQ. Timely 9iggeMoni Rogardlng Renovations Renova-tions and Spring Cleaning. A dear old housekeeper confided to me some tricks to which she had resorted with good effect in the renovation of her domicile during hor forty years' experience experi-ence in town and country at the bead of a household of largo numbor. This veteran vet-eran in her vocation never covers the entire en-tire surface of her bedroom floors, by which plan she can have the corners kept scrupulously froo from dust, and luT says one can make the margin look well and last a long time by first cleaning it nicely and then putting on a heavy coat of linseed oil, which she follows, after the oil has thoroughly dried with two coats of brown shellac varnish. Renovating Reno-vating the bedsteads bureaus and chairs, my authority insists, is one of the accessories acces-sories of cleaning house, and a great advantage ad-vantage to all housewives who desire to combine economy and perfection. "All my hardwood furniture," pursued pur-sued the old lady, "I thoroughly wash free of all dust, grease and finger marks with soap and water, and dry as thoroughly thor-oughly with clean cloths. Then, as I wish to keep the appearance the same as when it was new, I pour some linseed oil into a dish and, dipping a bit of flannel flan-nel into it, rub it over every bit of the wood, which was originally finished in oil, using a good deal of energy and continuing con-tinuing the rubbing until I can pass my hand over the entire surface without soiling soil-ing it. If there are any portions that were varnished, I buy a pint or so of ordinary or-dinary furniture varnish and spread it on generously with a small varnish bruslu "Picture frames usually need a little renovating now and again, and such as I have of black walnut or other hard wood I generally rub over with the flannel rag and linseed oil. Sometimes they can be made to look better than new by using shellac varnish on them, which does not dry so glossy as furniture varnish. For a brush I prefer a fiat paint brush, such as is called 'chiseled' that is, ground off on each side to form a thin edge and after it has been used in shellac varnish a painter told me to wash it in" strong alcohol, al-cohol, and never in turpontine or soap and water. If a person desire to touch up a pianoforte, they can procure from the manufacturers some varnish which is known as 'piano polishing' for the case, and 'piano flowing,' which is another preparation, for the legs. "In apartments where it is practicable I always like to lay a matting for the summer months; it looks so clean, cool and comfortable during the hot weather. But it often surprises me that so many people follow the custom of tacking each breadth to the floor with either the single sin-gle or the double pointed tacks that have recently been devised to lessen the number num-ber to be driven. Tacking' down each breadth in this manner is not only destructive de-structive to the matting, but it spoils the floor as well. Every tack put in or withdrawn with-drawn breaks at least one of the straws. I have found it a far better plan to sew the breadths together and then tack it to the floor in the same manner one would treat a carpet, Previous to laying the matting, mat-ting, however, I alwayB sew the two laid pieces where they are joined, across and across, which keeps the joints from opening. open-ing. I think housekeepers to whom economy is an object will find that matting mat-ting made and laid as I suggest will last fully twice as long as when it is tacked down breadth by breadth. "When there is a marble waehstand, bureau top, mantel or buffet that needs especial cleaning, some washing soda, crushed fine and mixed with pulverized quicklime, worked into a paste with some water, should be laid on and left to dry, after which it may be scraped off . and washed clean with soap and water, "The oilcloth in my kitchen has been down for years. I never allow soap, or only the least bit, to be used on it, as it removes the coloring, but I always keep some varnish on hand to have it treated with occasionally." Grace Conroy in New York Star. |