Keeping Insects from Spotting Painted Surfaces

Popular Mechanics, marraskuu 1925

Most amateurs usually hold off painting jobs in and about the home until warm weather. This may be good practice in one way, but at that season of the year the newly painted surfaces are very attractive to insects and if they get on the paint - as they naturally do - the appearance is ruined. A good method of preventing this and particularly caluable when painting seats, arbors and other garden furniture, especially if they are painted white or some light color, is the addition of ½ pt. of cedar oil to every gallon of paint. This oil will not injure the paint in any way. Very little turpentine should be added to the paint, if it is ready-mixed. The cedar oil is so effective that it more than justifies the slight expense incurred. Its odor will be objectionable to the insects, and the paint will have a change to dry before it can be spotted, which it cannot fail to be if no precaution has been taken to keep the pests away.
- L. H. Geroger, Buffalo, N. Y.