Dust-busters! Vacuuming and Valentines.

Our recent mission as part of the conservation team, aka the dust-busters, has been to assist with the deep clean and learn more about the conservation work that occurs in the manor, whilst the upstairs is closed to the public for 6 weeks in winter.

We have been learning more about caring for and cleaning: paintings, ceramics, fabrics and furniture, inspecting some incredibly beautiful and finely crafted pieces.

Using the ergo vac dust-busting on the lampshades in the Billiard room.

Different types of paintbrushes are used to remove loose dust from surfaces. "Pony hair" brushes are mainly used for ceramics, whereas soft gilt brushes are used for areas with gold leaf.

To give ceramics a good clean we used a very diluted solution of water and washing up liquid to break down grease, which is applied to a cotton wool ball and is brushed over the surface.

Rehanging paintings after they have been cleaned in the Pomegranate Passage.

It is amazing what information you can find on the back of paintings! 

The upstairs of the house will be open again from tomorrow, ready for Valentines day. Wightwick Manor is a perfect place to visit for Valentines due to the abundance of nooks and alcoves in which to whisper sweet nothings to your loved one.

Hopefully your day will not be as tragic as Edward and Maria's tumultuous love affair, depicted at Wightwick, in Love Amongst the Ruins.

 

 © National Trust