The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
FURNITURE POLISHING
Furniture can be kept in condition not so much by many frequent applications of wax or polish as by frequent rubbings. A thin coat of paste wax can thus be kept bright for long periods. Oil polishes should be rubbed until the oiliness disappears, for otherwise they will catch dust and show finger marks.
When woodwork is dull from too many applications of polish or wax, the coating should be removed by wiping with turpentine or with wax-removing preparations now widely available. Waxing or polishing should follow.
CLEANING UPHOLSTERY
Foam cleaners are excellent for cleaning soiled upholstery fabrics. They are used in the form of a stiff lather, which can be raised by beating a quantity of the cleaner in a bowl with an egg beater. The lather is applied with a soft brush to an area 8 to 12 inches across, brushing being continued and more lather added until the area is clean. The lather is then wiped off with a cloth dipped in clean water and wrung out, followed by wiping with a second cloth dipped in a separate vessel of clean water. Dry wiping follows, in the direction of the nap. Adjoining areas are treated in the same manner, with care not to leave uncleaned streaks between.
Before using this method of cleaning, lather should be applied to some obscure part of the fabric to ascertain whether the colors are fast; if they come off and discolor the lather, dry cleaning should be employed.
Grease Spofs Grease spots on upholstery fabrics, as from contact of head and hands, can be removed by brushing with a cleaning fluid; carbon tetrachloride is recommended because it is not inflammable (but the fumes are toxic; ventilate space when using it). Benzene and similar solvents are dangerous to use in a closed room and on a dry and hot day may ignite from the friction.
Inflammable solvents can be used for dry-cleaning upholstery which is not color-fast; but because of the quantity needed the work is best done outdoors. The solvent is applied with a soft brush; begin at the top and work down. Care should be taken to protect the woodwork from the solvent; cloths should be at hand to keep the woodwork wiped dry.
To give new colors, Fabspray is excellent, either "aerosoled" or brushed on. It dries quickly. As with fabric dyes, it cannot turn dark colors lighter, however.
Leather Upholstery Leather upholstery can be cleaned with a pure neutral soap, such as castile or one of the soaps used in fine laundering, or with saddle soap. After drying, the glaze can be restored by rubbing with beaten white of egg. For black leather, the white of egg can be colored with lampblack.
