Chapter 8. A FIRE ON THE HEARTH

Eons ago, when man first discovered fire, he wisely rigged up a hearth in his cave and cozily toasted his toes. He never let that fire go out and the hearth became the symbol of home.

A FIREPLACE DOMINATES ANY ROOM it occupies and its appearance tells what kind of person you are-neat, lazy, indifferent, or sloppy. A cluttered mantel, accumulations of trash in the fireplace waiting for the touch of a lighted match, and facings grimed with smoke suggest a carelessly run home. Yet the "clean-winged hearth" of which the poet sang is not difficult to attain, and the best way to clean it is almost invariably the easiest. Basic care, of course, begins with the chimney.

FOR A CLEAR DRAFT, as a precaution against falling soot, and for safety from fire, your fireplace chimney should be cleaned regularly (fire wardens say once a year if you use it often) and kept in good repair. A high blaze on the hearth, plus a heavy incrustation of soot in the chimney, invites a fire that could destroy your home.

A BRICK FIREPLACE, when it needs more than dusting, can be scrubbed down with a brush, using warm water containing about an ounce of trisodium phosphate, Oakite, or washing soda per gallon. Rinse carefully. This should remove ordinary soil and soot. If the bricks look faded, the color can be freshened by brushing them over with a cold water paint of the desired tint. (Oil paints are likely to blister with the heat.) An old fashioned method of restoring color to the bricks is to wet them with hot water and rub them with another brick.

A STONE FIREPLACE requires only a good brushing now and then, but if the stones have become stained with soot here is the formula for a thorough cleanup. To four ounces of yel low laundry soap in a suitable kettle, add about one quart of hot water. Heat the water until the soap has been completely dissolved. Let it cool, then add half a pound of powdered pumice and half a cup of household ammonia. Mix these ingredients thoroughly. With a stiff brush remove as much soot as possible from the stones, then apply a coating of the soap mixture with a paint brush. Let it remain for a good half hour, then clean it off with warm water and a stiff scrubbing brush. Rinse the stones thoroughly with warm water.

IF YOUR FIREPLACE HAS A SLATE HEARTH and facings, wash them with a detergent or soap, using a mild abrasive if necessary. Rinse the slate and wipe it dry. For an added beauty treatment rub the dry slate with a soft cloth dipped in lemon oil furniture polish. With a fresh cloth wipe off any excess oil and then buff the stone. This makes the slates uniformly dark and glossy. Wax, recommended for slate floors, is not desirable here because heat from the fire affects it.

FOR MARBLE MANTELS AND FACINGS follow the directions for marble floors and marble furniture.

FOR PAINTED MANTELS follow the cleaning directions given for painted walls and woodwork.

BRASS ANDIRONS AND FIRE TOOLS are not difficult to keep bright if they are polished regularly. Use a polish made for brass (metal polishes differ in their abrasive qualities) and rub until the tarnish is gone. Polish the brass with a piece of soft flannel or chamois leather. Burned-in resins from wood can be removed with steel wool but fine emery cloth, which can be bought at a hardware store, is better and easier to handle. Rub in one direction and use your polish afterwards.

LACQUERED BRASS needs only to be dusted or washed with tepid suds. If the lacquer begins to crack and peel, or has become blackened from the fire, the tools should be redone. To do them yourself, first remove the old lacquer with acetone (drugstore), then polish them. Wipe them again with acetone to be sure that every trace of the polish is removed, then brush or spray them with a transparent metal lacquer.

CLEAN IRON FIRE TOOLS with a brush or duster and rub them occasionally with a cloth moistened with kerosene. This will keep them black and prevents rust. Or they can be painted with a special, fire-resistant andiron paint, available in dull or glossy finish. If the horizontal bar of an andiron snaps, a welder will repair it for you at little cost, or put on a new piece.

FIRE SCREENS should be dusted frequently. If they become gummy or soiled, clean them with kerosene on a cloth, or scrub them with hot water and a good detergent.

FIRE PREVENTION. So much for your fireplace, except for a final note of caution. Never retire at night, or leave your home untended, while a fire still blazes on the hearth. If you can't wait for it to burn out bank it thickly with ashes. Fire screens are a must for untended fires. They should always be in place if there are small children about.