MY WAY WITH TILED FLOORS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 21

MY WAY WITH TILED FLOORS

By MARJORIE CROOME Tiled floors, which so often involve an unnecessary amount of work, may be kept in a perfectly clean condition for a considerable time provided they are treated in the following manner: Sweep thoroughly with a soft broom, then wipe the floor over with a cloth wrung tightly out of warm water. Complete the process by rubbing the tiles with a cloth moistened in a solution of milk and water, or, if preferred, polish with linseed oil and turpentine mixed together in equal quantities. If, however, the tiles are very soiled, a wiping with a damp cloth will not be sufficient. They should be scrubbed briskly with warm, soapy water and an abrasive agent, care being taken to avoid making the floor too wet. Excess of mois ture is liable to cause the tiles to loosen. To Remove Stains For stains, it is advisable to apply a thick paste made of whiting and a strong solution of soda water. Leave this on for at least 24 hours before washing with warm water. Tiled floors may be greatly improved by an occasional application of precipitated whiting and water, mixed to the consistency of thin cream. Allow this to become quite dry; remove and polish with a soft cloth.

W-ILU a. OUH LiU LLI. Stone floors are best treated by rubbing with a hard sandstone brick, preparatory to sweeping with a soft broom. Sometimes, of course, it will be necessary to swill the floor with a plentiful supply of water and a strong bass broom. Some people try to whiten stone floors by means of hearthstone. This method, however, is not only laborious, but by no means satisfactory. That Pleasing Whiteness I Such floors may be whitened in a more permanent manner by a mixture

of two tablespoonfuls of whiting, two cakes of pipeclay, half a pint of blue water, and half a pint of size. Add the pint of blue water, and the size to two quarts of water and boil for ten minutes. Then gradually stir in the whiting and pipe clay. Apply this mixture sparingly to the stone floor, using a clean flannel for the purpose. When dry, brush the floor lightly, in order to remove any surface dust. Discoloured stone is usually remedied by washing it with a solution of chloride of lime and water, in the proportion of one ounce of the lime to hair a pailful of the water. Soak the floor thoroughly with the mixture, and leave for one hour. Next scrub the stone with hot soda-water, and finish in the usual way.