Show FIRST AID to I 1 0 the AILING HOUSE NIP G 1 1 00 i bosom by roger B whitman roger 13 B whitman features you may not be able to re replace I 1 ce worn or broken household equipments equip equipment menta this I 1 ts war government priorities come first so take care of what you have a as well as you possibly can this c column 1 I mu by the homeowners friend tells you how bow HARD WATER CRUST IN KETTLES I 1 TN N SECTIONS of the country where i the water is hard there is continual trouble with the crusting of kettles in which the water is boiled the crusting can be lofte softened ned by soaking for a few hours with a half and half mixture of cider vinegar and water and then bringing it to a boil another method is to mash two or three raw potatoes in the kettle to add a little water and after soaking all night to bring to a boil neither of these methods however can be counted on to clean the crust from the spout of the kettle and tor for this reason when hard water is used it is better to boil it in an open saucepan or some other vessel that can be easily cleaned after use in this way keeping an oyster or clam shell in the kettle will check the crusting another idea is to cut a piece of linen to fit the inside of the kettle weighting it down with a stone or oyster shell the crust will deposit on the linen rather than on the kettle when it is stiffened it can be replaced in some parts of the country it is the custom to use inexpensive tin kettles that can be thrown out when crusted although with the defense priorities now in force this may not be practical enamel over varnish question I 1 have some light oak varnished woodwork that I 1 intend to enamel should I 1 first remove the vir varnish nish or would it be all right to use a good grade of enamel undercoat right over the varnish and then apply the enamel I 1 am told that if this is done the white enamel will discolor within a few months and the job will have to be done over answer the enamel would not stick over the gloss of the varnish and the job would be no good you either can clean off the varnish by first softening it with varnish remover and scraping or you can roughen the varnish by sandpapering sand papering you then can put a thin coat of shellac to seal in whatever stain is in the wood you then can apply two coats of enamel undercoat and finish with enamel when using a commercial varnish remover after scraping every trace must be cleaned off with benzine or turpentine be very careful of fire and have plenty of ventilation another type of remover can be made with phosphate used in the proportion of three pounds to the gallon of hot water after scraping oft off the varnish rinse thoroughly with clear water vater water pipes drip question nearly every pipe joint of our hot water heating system drips water in the cellar iron cement has been recommended to stop the dripping do you advise this answer you can use an iron cement that comes already prepared in paste form or you can use a white lead paste for best results take the pipe apart and brush one of these pastes on the pipe threads it if the leaks are not bad a wiping of white lead paste may be sufficient but this should be done when the pipes are cold and you should allow plenty of time for thorough drying soiled stone question could you tell me some whiten or restore the color of the stone under the windows in a home stone has become very dark and stained answer scrub the stone with a solution 01 of about a cupful of phosphate or washing soda in a pail of warm water rinse with clear water if discoloration is stubborn scrubbing with a powder may remove it |