Furniture which has become soiled by long use may be cleaned and the appearance greatly improved by the method here described. If a varnished or shellacked surface of natural wood like an office desk or chairs, first clean with the following solution;

Borax........2 ounces

Water........ 1 quart

The water should be lukewarm when mixing. Apply with a sponge, and clean off with warm water, also applied with a sponge. Then shellac with a thin coat of shellac cut with alcohol. Then go over with polish made as follows:

Acetic acid......1 gill

Alcohol. ......... 2 gills

Water to make total of 1 quart.

This should be applied with a sponge, and will give a smooth, handsome surface resembling hand-rubbed polish. When a polished surface is so badly worn that the wood is exposed and dark with dirt, it should first be cleaned with a saturated solution of oxalic acid, which will restore the natural wood color. Follow this with the cleaning solution first given, and then polish as directed.