Or place in a tin pan 5 ounces of powdered rosin, 24 ounces of yel low beeswax, and rub through a coarse grater. Add 1 pint of tur pentine, and place the pan in a larger pan, surrounded by boiling water. This should be done at a dis tance from a stove or open flame, and matches should not be lighted in the vicinity, as the turpentine gives off an inflammable gas. Stir until of a uniform consistency, and pour into glass fruit jars or tin pails having tight covers to preserve for future use. When required for use, thin with turpentine to the consistency of cream, and apply as above.
Spots on Waxed Floors.—Apply a little benzine or turpentine on a soft cloth to remove the wax. Rub clean with a dry cloth, and let the benzine or turpentine evaporate before waxing.
To remove dirt that is ground in, scour with steel wool. After the spot has been removed, rub over the spot and adjacent surface with a cloth moistened in a solution of wax and turpentine or other polisher. Rub dry with a weighted brush to a fine polish, otherwise it will be sticky. Avoid the use of water, as it will turn the wax white. Never use soft soap, sal soda, or other alkalies, as they tend to cut the oil in which the shel lac is mixed, strike through and darken the floor beneath.
Oil for Floors.—Do not use crude petroleum oil on oak or similar hard wood floors. The crude petroleum contains a dyestuff which, with the addition of tannin, is the basis of black ink. All oak and some other hard woods contain tannin, which unites with certain constituents of crude oil and some other petroleum products to form in the fibers of the wood an insoluble black inky dye. Thus, in a short time the floor will be turned jet black, and its appearance ruined. To remove this stain, wash
the floor with sal soda or caustic pot ash lye, rinse, dry, and apply a solu tion of 1 pound of oxalic acid dis solved in 10 or 12 quarts of warm water. Wet the floor with this so lution and let it dry without rins ing. Let stand, if convenient, over night. But remember that oxalic acid is an active poison. Hence care must be taken to keep pets and chil dren out of the room, and not to breathe in the dust that rises from the dry crystals. Pour out the rins ing water into a pit and cover it with earth. Oxalic acid will not injure shellac or interfere with any subse quent treatment.
Care of Hard-wood Floors. — To prevent furniture from scratching or marring hard-wood floors, get pieces of thick felt or soft rubber or obtain from a cobbler a sheet of rubber ing. Cut these to the exact size of the table and chair feet. Cover them with glue, and when the glue becomes " tacky " lay them on. Put news papers under the chairs to protect the floor until the glue is quite dry. The floor will be kept in much bet ter condition if the members of the family wear rubber heels on their shoes.
To Restore Wax Floors.—Old wax may be removed from a hard-wood floor by mixing equal quantities of sal soda and slaked lime, and using about 1 pound of the mixture to a pailful of water. Apply this with a mop, and afterwards scrub the floor with sand soap and water. If necessary apply dilute sulphuric acid, 1 part of acid to 10 parts of water. After wards rinse in water containing a lit tle ammonia and wipe dry.
Remove any remaining traces of wax by means of turpentine. Other wise shellace will not adhere.