Remove Excess Oil, Wax Polish To Keep Paw Prints Off Furniture

Q: What's the answer to kitty paw prints? My beloved cat can't be persuaded that my mahogany dining table or teak coffee table are not to be jumped on. I see all these little oily prints, and ordinary polishes don't seem to faze them. A: Having been affected by this particular phenomenon, I get a big kick out of delving into the mysteries of animal behavior.

Unless your cat has been hanging out in oily garages or walking through greasy pans in the kitchen, cats have generally dry paws and are fastidious about keeping them clean. Chances are, his paws have adsorbed wax or oil from the surface of the wood, which leads me to conclude that you might have a buildup of whatever polishing agent (wax-based or oil-based) you use on the tables. Try using less and buffing any excess off.

A trick to discourage kitty from getting up there is to use an orange-oil based polish, like Howard's Orange Oil Furniture Polish. To people,-the orange odor seems quite pleasant, but for most cats, the smell of oranges seems about as appealing as skunks. When my kitty leaps up on the table after a recent polishing, he does this sort of little slow, awkward dance from foot to foot, with his ears laid back, and leaps right back off. Might work for your cat, too. Q: I have a problem with the front door. It's oak inside, beautiful, but it is badly weather-beaten on the outside. Should it be sanded down or can I strip it? A: Well, it's a little hard to tell you without a little more detail. You may need to do both. If the door is a smooth one with no detail, sanding down the exterior will work fine. Start with a medium grit sandpaper, and then finish with a very fine grit.

When it is sanded down to bare wood, and thoroughly cleaned of all dust, you can apply an exterior-grade varnish or polyurethane. Talk to your local hardware or paint store about the best grade of finish that will resist both moisture and sunlight.

If the door has more detail, carving or smaller panels, you might find it easier to strip it. Be careful using any paint and varnish stripper, and follow all directions on the container, especially the safety instructions. If you are not familiar with a good brand, discuss this with your hardware or paint store. After stripping, a light sanding with very fine grit sandpaper is probably recommended, too, before putting on a finish.

Either job is made easier by removing the door and laying it on a flat surface at a convenient height for you. And by all means, remove any hardware from the door before sanding or stripping.

If you've never tackled a project like this before, don't hesitate to seek out expert help.

Mark Hetts' home-repair column runs as space allows in the Home/Real Estate section. Send questions to: Mr. HandyPerson, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.