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Show FIRST AID to the AILING HOUSE I by Roger C. Whitman QUESTION: I have bronze screens that have been discolored because someone .rubbed yellow soap all over them. This has made them green. I have tried to clean them by washing them and also used kerosene, but this has not helped. I would appreciate any suggestions. ANSWER: I believe wiping the screens with a cloth dampened with ammonia would take off the green discoloration. Be careful of ammonia am-monia fumes. If this fails, try a good metal polish. An alternative would be to wash with ordinary vinegar, in which has been dissolved dis-solved as much salt as will be taken up; then rinse well with clear water. The solution can be made into a paste by the addition of flour. QUESTION: My chimney has leaked for years. Numerous repairmen re-pairmen could not find the leak. I also had a waterproof coating applied. ap-plied. The leak is over the fireplace. fire-place. Can you advise me? ANSWER: There may be breaks in the mortar joints, especially at the joint over the fireplace. Or the bricks themselves may be old and porous. Defective flashings at the roof line might be another cause. Try to get a good chimney mason to visit the house on a rainy day and find out just where the trouble lies. He may advise putting on a chimney cap, for rain may come down the chimney. Perhaps a tuck-pointing job may be needed, and also a coating of cement base paint containing a waterproofer. |