The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

First Aid For The Ailing Houses

CURLED RUGS

New rugs are usually sized on the back to make them lie flat. Through wear and after cleaning, the size disappears and the corners or ends of the rug curl. To resize a rug, stretch it upside down on a floor where it can remain for 24 hours; tack it lightly into place. Spray the back with a solution of 1/2 pound of chip glue in 2 quarts of water; allow to remain until thoroughly dry. Another process is to brush on a thin coat of white shellac.

DENTED RUGS

To remove a dent in a rug made by a heavy piece of furniture, cover with a damp cloth and press with a steam iron; with the moist heat the nap will spring back. Finish with a stiff brush.

A new type of furniture cup is available for tufted rugs. It looks a bit like the vase holder for flowers, which has a number of spines to catch the stems. This cup has the spines on the bottom; they penetrate through the tufts of the rug and support the weight of the furniture on the backing, without leaving unsightly dents on the surface.

FUR

To clean fur, rub thickly with hot bran; the bran should not be heated enough to scorch. After several hours remove by brushing and light beating.

Corn meal may also be used for cleaning a coat, but do not make the mistake of using a corn-bread mix, which contains shortening and other baking products. Use the corn meal in the same manner as the bran.

LAMP SHADES

Parchment lamp shades can be cleaned with a cloth damp with soapy water. Another method is to wipe with milk.

For silk lamp shades, run enough lukewarm water into a bathtub to cover them, add soap flakes, and douse the shades in it. Rinse well with clear water. Shake, pat with a bath towel, and hang up to dry. Braid and similar ornaments that are stuck on will come off but can be replaced with thin glue.

SILVER

Tarnishing, even the kind so bad it is black, can be quickly removed with the new metal-cleaning liquids. In addition to their speed and ease of action, a great advantage is how well they penetrate into heavily carved places. While some have a fairly unpleasant odor, this can be readily overlooked in the time and effort they save.