Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 20 November '85 5

Antiques i ^ /4r//iur H. Schwerdt

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Everything from turkey gravy to scotch and soda can wind up on your furniture during the holidays. If you like to keep the furniture you have looking the best that it can (and, if you live in antiques-loving Cape May County, I assume that you do), the mere thought of these stains can make your holidays more nervous than merry. A couple of weeks ago I started a series on furniture care. There will be other articles in the future, but I thought this was as good a time as any to touch on the topic of stain removal. FIRST THE don'ts. Don't go crazy and grab for a scrub brush right away. Remember what I said the last time: "What you need most when you wash furniture are your brains." Don't despair either, and imagine that your furniture will have to be completely stripped and refinished at great expense. There are alternatives. Among them are the following time-honored remedies: White water marks or rings are the most common holiday furniture stains. They are caused by condensation on the outside of a glass which leaks down the side onto your furniture. TO PREVENT this from happening, don't be afraid to ask your guests to use coasters. To ren\ove the white stain, first try simply rubbing around the ring with a finger dipped in vegetable oil. The combination of the heat from the friction and the oil might remove the stain right away if it hasn't gone too deep. If this Chamber Meet AVALON — The borough • . Chamber of Commerce will 1 meet 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Whitebrier Inn. Cocktails are scheduled at 6:30. A I CPA will talk about the new | tax laws. For reservations i call 967-5541. (

doesn't work try the same procedure with a clean cloth dipped in warm linseed oil. IF NEITHER of these procedures removes the stain, you will need some sort of abrasive. First try mixing cigar or cigarette ashes with the oil. If that doesn't work, try a metal or car polish in small amount. Remember to confine the application of any solution to just the stained area. Another common problem arises when a wellmeaning guest uses a newspaper or some other paper as a coaster. When the paper dries, it sticks to the furniture. Of course, the most damage is done when you try to scrape the paper off or use soap and water. Simply drip some vegetable oil onto the paper, let it sit for a bit. and the paper should come right up. Don't scrape at candle wax either. Apply an ice cube to the wax, making sure that no water gets on the furniture. Then, with the edge of your plastic credit card, gently pry up the wax. Rub the surface with a clean cloth which is barely damp with mineral spirits. CIGARETTE burns, if they are not too bad, can also be removed. Try a scratch-concealing polish available in your hardware store. If that fails, ask at the hardware store for rottenstone, or if you have a dull finish, pumice in power form. Add either of these to some boiled linseed oil and apply to the stain. j^Are you getting the idea I^Uinseed oil and mineral spirits are household essentials for those who like to their furniture looking good? I hope so. Just remember these two cautions:

FIRST, linseed oil tends to darken a finish, and will become a dqst catcher if not wiped off So make sure to rub and rub and rub. always with a clean cloth. Second, mineral spirits -will remove your finish if you use too much or rub too hard. It is, however, the best way to remove old wax and dirt. THERE ARE some great reference works in the Middle Township Public Library in Court House. If you don't want to chance removing the stain yourself, there are several antiques dealers in the area who will take on the job for you if they're not too tied up with their own work. I think you will be surprised that the prices are fairly reasonable. You may even consider having the entire piece revived. NEXT WEEK: Why Thanksgiving is such a special day for antiques lovers. (Arthur Schwerdt, coowner of The August Farmhouse. on Route 9 in Swainton, invites questions c/o this newspaper.)

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GED Exams Available COURT HOUSE - The General Education Development Exam, through which adults can obtain high school diplomas, is given the first Thursday and Friday of each month at the County Vo/Tech, Career Center here. Candidates should be over 18 and have been out of school for at least 12 months. For further information, call 465-2161. Test Results' Will Be Aired COURT HOUSE - Interested persons are invited to attend the Middle Township Board of Education meeting scheduled for 8 p.m tomorrow in the Administration Building. The state-mandated High School Proficiency Test results in Reading. Writing, and Mathematics will be discussed. For further information, contact Edith Ludlam at 465-9411, ext. 209

CLOSED TUESDAYS f J ^ Open Thanksgiving 8 to 11 a.tn. ialdlisserie A FRENCH BAKERY ORDER YOUR THANKSGIVING BREADS AND PIES EARLY WHOLESALE rktah. »4 W4SHI>I,U1- MAH CAP! MAV ■'J -8 8 4 >10'

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