Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1874 — Hints on House Papering. [ARTICLE]

Hints on House Papering.

This is the season, among good house wives, for cleaning, whitewashing, painting, papering, and otherwise renovating the domicile. After the cleaning, whitewashing and painting is accomplished, comes the- process of papering the walls; but the first thing, frequently, is the removal of the old paper.— To do this successfully, wet the wall thoroughly; and, when well soaked, the obi paper can be stripped off very quickly. After the ! paper is removed, wash the wall to get off all the particles of paper which may remain, and leave the walls till nearly dry before commencing to lay the new paper. If the walls have been whitewashed instead of papered, wash the walls with vinegar, which will make the paste and paper adhere more se‘ curely. A bench is easily made tor measuring and cutting the paper, by placing boards of suitable length across two flour barrels.'— The paper should be nil-foiled and cut to proper length and in sufficient quantity to cover the room, before the pasting process Commences. — ; These sheets should be laid' one | over the other, to be readily at J hand when the paster is ready to begin work. The liability of turning the edges or damaging the paper will te greatly obviated by adopting this course. Flour paste is the usual article for the purpose, and rye flour is considered better than wheat, as it has more adhesion. 51i:: the flour in cold watqr thoroughly, by Stirling, until the paste has a thin creamy consistence, and then boil, when if will thicken, according to the length of time it is submitted to tire heat. If found too thick in cooling, add boiling .water till the. ‘desired degree of thickness is obtained; then add a little carbolic acid to prevent the paste from souring or becoming mouldy. Abroad whitewash brush is the best to apply the paste with, | and the paper should be laid quickly after pasting, 1 to prevent its beeomingisoft and tender to handle. Two persons arc required to lay on paper with rapidity, qne to pa.ste and one to apply the paper. When the paper is pasted it should be handed to the person on the ladder, who holds it about a foot from the i top end, and lays it evenly against I the wall at the top, allowing the j upper end to hang oyer on the backs] of the hands. By looking down | the wall, it may be seen when it matches the previously laid )ength; and after adjusting to * match, it i shotfld tjien be brought gently Co j the wall, the- backs of the hands { then pressed against the wall and 1 passed upward toward the ceding,! spreading them out towards the, corners of the length of paper.— The scissors are then run along, at' the juncture of the waU and ceiling, \ making a mark which can be easily seen, when the top of the paper is ; removed for a little distance, and it is cut oft’ even /and replaced.— j Then a, soft cloth is gently passed I downwards and the paper prissed against the wall to the bottom, “where it is cutoff, as at the top. ■