A good plain paper, somewhat dirty from smoke, but otherwise in good condition, except ing for a few small grease spots, may be cleansed by first brushing it down and wiping with a clean chamois leather to remove loose dust, after wards rubbing with stale bread which has been cut into squares for convenience of handling, the crust having been previously removed. Two or three thicknesses of clean blotting-paper laid on a grease-spot, and kept in position for a short time by firm pressure with a hot iron, will gener ally remove such blemishes. Benzine, carefully applied, is also effectual. Another way of treat ing grease spots is to rub them with spirits, cover with soft rag, and place a hot iron over them.
Perhaps the best method of cleaning wall paper is first to dust the walls with a fine brush, then mix some flour and water into a thick dough, and draw this down or across the paper. Care must be taken not to use the same portion of the surface of the dough a second time; keep kneading it as it is used; and when the dough is much discolored with dirt, a fresh piece must be taken.
Still another method of removing grease stains from wallpaper is to make a thin paste by mixing powdered starch or flour with benzoline (petroleum spirit). In this mixture, dip a sponge, and with it make a ring around the stain. While the ring is still wet, thoroughly soak the intervening space containing the stain. Allow the paste to dry, then remove the powder with a clean soft brush. The object of making the ring around the stain is to prevent the oil being car ried away from the spots and forming a ring in the paper, as it does by the usual method of treatment.
Canvas on boarding or battening is at best to be regarded as more or less of a makeshift ar rangement. The principal points to be observed
are to keep the canvas stretched as tightly as possible, and to nail it as close to margins and angles as possible. Where it is necessary to make joints, the widths should be loosely sewn with the edges butted—not lapped—so as to make the joint as inconspicuous as possible. After the canvas is closely tacked down and tightly strained it should be well sized, which will have the effect of tightening it still further.
When dry, the paper can be hung upon it. The tacks used must be tinned tacks (not blue ones, as they will rust through the paper). It is usual to cover canvas with a stout lining paper, or with brown paper from the roll, before the wallpaper is hung. A small moulding fixed along the top close to the ceiling will keep the paper from curling.
Wallpaper is readily discolored by new plas ter; for this reason new walls should not be pa pered for at least six months after being plas tered, to allow the moisture from the bricks and plaster to exhaust itself. It is a much better plan to distemper the walls temporarily. Papers with grounds of a delicate tint are unsuitable for new walls; the dampness, however slight, causes the color to fly.
Washing down the plaster work with strong vinegar will frequently keep back the efflor escence that is often seen on new walls, but will not prevent damp coining through. Washing the walls before hanging the paper, with water to which is added sulphuric acid, minimizes the bleaching action of the lime in the plaster; when dry, a couple of coats of size should be applied. Another precaution is to hang plain paper over the wall before the wallhanging is put on.
By sizing newly plastered walls before paper ing, the paste is given a better grin.