Greasy Overalls

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 71, 1 November 1940, Page 44

Greasy Overalls

Dear Aunt Daisy, I always get so much help and advice from your hints and recipes in The Listener that I am writing to see if you could tell me of any preparation which I could use to remove the grease from engineers’ overalls. Also whether a linoleum from which the pattern has worn off could be painted. I have an idea I have heard that this can be done effect-ively.-"Karapiro." For the greasy and oily overalls, try soaking them for some hours in a bucket of water containing a teacup of kerosene. Then wring out and wash in hot water and a good soap powder. Ammonia, too, will help-a tablespoon of the good "cloudy" kind put in with the soapy (Continued on next page) ‘

(Continued from previous page) water. Better still, however, and much quicker, is the use of a commercial household cleanser, the name of which I cannot give here, but will gladly supply by letter, if you send me a stamped, addressed envelope. After soaking the overalls thus, they will come clean without the slightest trouble, especially if you are the lucky possessor of a washing machine. RENOVATING LINOLEUM: The linoleum can be painted over most successfully, provided every bit of floorwax and polish is first scrubbed off with painters’ sugar soap, or even soda water, and the linoleum afterwards rubbed over with turpentine.. The preparation. will not set evenly on a greasy surface; and it is not easy to get every bit of floorwax out of linoleum, for some of it seems to become deeply absorbed. Still, if well scrubbed and "turpentined" as I have described, an excellent job can be made; and I have had scores of letters from "Links in the Daisy Chain" who have transformed their shabby old floor-covering into a smart new one. Some have even painted a design on it -perhaps a wide band all round of a dark brown, and the inside a light fawn; others have used two shades of red, or green, or contrasted colours. It is well worth the trouble when finished, besides being really an interesting job to do. Most housewives are anxious and worried these days, and doing a big job, like painting the floor-covering and perhaps the wainscoting and doors and windowledges, as well, and making curtains to match, creates a real interest and takes one’s mind off the war for a little while. Two thin coats make a very permanent job, and are much better than one thick coat.