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Show I FIRST-AID AILING HOUSE m mum mi in m mil nr "iTiTl by Roger B. Whitman Roger B. Whitman WNU Features. You may not be able to replace worn or broken household equipment. This is war. Government priorities come first. So take care of what you have ... as well as you possibly can. This column by the homeowner's friend tells you how. ENAMELED TO NATURAL FINISH Question: The house we bought has white enameled woodwork in the living liv-ing room and dining room. How can I restore it to its natural finish? Answer: You can take off the present pres-ent finish with a commercial varnish var-nish and paint remover. Be careful care-ful to clean off all traces of the remover with benzine afterward. Both liquids are inflammable. Be careful of fire and have plenty, of ventilation. Or you can use a hot solution of trisodium phosphate, three pounds to the gallon of water. This will soften the old finish so that you can scrape and wipe it off. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry. You then can refinish with clear varnish, var-nish, or whatever you wish. When using a paint remover, be sure to clean it all off after removing the paint; if any trace is left, it will continue to soften the new finish. Rust Spot on Tile Floor . Question: I kept a steel cabinet in my bathroom for quite a while. When I moved it to another room I found it had left a large rust spot on the tile floor. Scrubbing with scouring scour-ing cleanser does not remove it. What should I use? Answer: Dissolve one part sodium citrate in six parts of water, and add six parts of commercial glycerine. glyc-erine. Mix a portion of this with enough powdered whiting, hydrated lime or other absorbing powder, to form a paste, and spread on the stain in a thick coat. When it is dry, replace with fresh paste or moisten with the remaining liquid. A week or more may be required for the complete removal of the stain. Covered Radiators Question: I have metal covers on all the radiators; these are on top, but not the front and back. Does this lose much heat? I feel that the covers, besides keeping curtains cleaner, may divert the heat closer to the floors where our children play. We do not need the upper three or four feet in the room. Answer: Heated air rises; therefore, there-fore, in heating a room the warm air builds up from the ceiling down. A cover of any type on a radiator naturally would have a tendency to cut down the efficiency. The kind of cover you are now using does not reduce re-duce the heating efficiency of the radiator as much as a complete enclosure. en-closure. Sticky Enamel Question: Recently we removed the finish from a walnut table with paint remover, then refinished with two coats of white enamel. Newspaper News-paper print and lint from clothes stick to the top. We have waxed it, but it still remains sticky. Is there any remedy? Answer: I make the guess that after aft-er removing the old finish you forgot for-got to clean off the paint remover, which still is active in softening the new finish. You had better start over again by taking off all the finish; fin-ish; but this time clean off the paint remover with benzine (being extremely ex-tremely careful of fire). Sandpaper, if necessary, and refinish. Shutting Off Radiators Question: I have a hot-water heating heat-ing system. Would I save on fuel and not interfere with the flow of water if I shut off the third-floor radiator and possibly one or two on the second floor? Would it be better bet-ter to remove the radiators entirely? Answer: You should disconnect each radiator and plug the branch or pipe at some place below the unheated space to keep it from freezing. freez-ing. In the average hot-water heating heat-ing system, the cutting off of a radiator radi-ator should not interfere with the operation op-eration of the rest of the radiators and will effect a saving of fuel. Freshening Up Leather Chairs Question: What can be done with a maroon leather office set that fades when sat upon during warm weather: The color comes off also. Answer: Begin by washing the leather (without using much water) with saddle soap, which can be had at a leather goods store. Rinse well and allow to dry. Then paint with good quality enamel, just as it comes in the can, without thinning. Heel Marks Question: Could you tell me how to get rubber heel marks off my polished hardwood floor? Answer: Wipe with turpentine and fine steel wool. If this does not remove re-move the marks, put a little scratch-less scratch-less cleaning powder on a damp cloth and rub lightly. Then wipe with a clean, damp cloth and re-wax re-wax the spot |