{"id":471168,"date":"2025-10-03T13:24:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T13:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/471168\/"},"modified":"2025-10-03T13:24:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T13:24:42","slug":"the-clever-cleaning-tricks-the-professionals-use-to-keep-britains-most-iconic-locations-grime-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/471168\/","title":{"rendered":"The clever cleaning tricks the professionals use to keep Britain\u2019s most iconic locations grime-free"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Monday morning but, instead of my usual laptop and desk, I find myself in a lab coat, ostrich-feather duster in hand, polishing the shoes of a centuries-old, 12ft marble statue in the heart of Britain\u2019s most iconic cathedral \u2013 while tourists eagerly take photos. Not quite what I imagined when I became the household advice writer at Good Housekeeping, but for cleaning team lead Sam Cheshire and collections care manager Karen Bradford at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral, it\u2019s just another day.<\/p>\n

In recent weeks, Katie Mortram<\/a> and I have been travelling the country, stepping behind the ropes at some of the UK\u2019s most famous landmarks to meet the teams who keep them spotless. We learned how hard it is to balance deep-cleaning with preserving antiques, heard tales of mischievous members of the public and, most importantly, gathered the expert hacks they swear by \u2013 tips you can use at home. <\/p>\n

At St Paul\u2019s, I spoke to Sam Cheshire and Karen Bradford about caring for one of London’s most recognisable landmarks; at Hever Castle, Alison Palmer and Caroline Connor revealed how they keep a fortress visitor-ready; and at the Greenwich Observatory, Anastazja Harding explained how she keeps world-famous telescopes gleaming as brightly as the stars.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what they told us…<\/p>\n

Tip 1: Spray glass cleaner on your broom <\/strong><\/p>\n

Caroline Connor, conservation and preservation cleaning team leader at Hever Castle, has spent nearly a decade caring for the 640-year-old Kent fortress \u2013 once home to a young Anne Boleyn. One of her favourite tricks? \u2018Put a bit of glass cleaner on the end of your broom or brush,\u2019 she told me. \u2018When you sweep, the dust doesn\u2019t fly everywhere. Instead, it clumps together in easy-to-collect piles.\u2019<\/p>\n

In the castle, this hack is particularly useful for tackling its many grand wooden staircases, but it works just as well in everyday homes. It\u2019s also a great tip for allergy sufferers, as it helps stop dust from being stirred into the air (and your airways).<\/p>\n

\"professionalJooney Woodward<\/p>\n

Cleaning at Hever<\/p>\n

Tip 2: Try Renaissance Wax <\/strong><\/p>\n

Alison Palmer, the castle curator, suggests looking beyond everyday cleaning sprays and polishes and reaching for the curator\u2019s favourite go-to for long-lasting shine: Renaissance Wax.<\/a> \u2018We use it to create a protective barrier on silverware. It helps stop silver and other metals from tarnishing, and it smells wonderful too!\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

While it may sound specialist, Renaissance Wax isn\u2019t hard to find \u2013 you can buy it from conservation suppliers or, err, Amazon. Applied carefully with cotton wool, it takes a little time but delivers big results. Best of all, the protective coating means you won\u2019t need to polish your silver as often. And anything that cuts down on future cleaning? That\u2019s a win in our books.<\/p>\n

Renaissance Wood Wax and Polish <\/p>\n

\"Wood<\/a><\/p>\n

Tip 3: Use deionised water for grease marks <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018We have to be mindful of the aged material,\u2019 says preventative conservator Anastazja Harding at the Greenwich Observatory, explaining why gentle methods are vital when caring for historic objects. Most of the time, dry cleaning with soft brushes is best for preserving precious antiques (she herself often opts for a goat hair brush), but she\u2019s found that deionised water works wonders on greasy fingerprints.<\/p>\n

\"professionalMark Harrison<\/p>\n

Katie vs. greasy fingerprints<\/p>\n

Deionised water is simply water with most of its mineral ions \u2013 like calcium and magnesium \u2013 removed. These minerals are the main culprits behind streaks and spots when water evaporates, which is why deionised water is brilliant for cleaning glass without harsh chemicals, streaks or smudges. At the Greenwich museums, Anastazja uses it to keep display cases free of visitors\u2019 greasy fingerprints (and even nose prints!), but at home you can use the same trick on vintage glassware or mirrors that require a more gentle touch.<\/p>\n

CarPlan De-Ionised Water 2.5L<\/p>\n

\"De-Ionised<\/a> Tip 4: Always do a patch test<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Before reaching for a new product, Karen Bradford, collections care manager at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral, advises a cautious approach. \u2018It\u2019s about making sure it won\u2019t degrade the surface over time,\u2019 she stresses. Even something as familiar as glass cleaner can contain ingredients that, after years of use, gradually wear away or dull delicate finishes.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why she recommends always checking the ingredients and doing a discreet patch test on an inconspicuous area first. If there\u2019s no reaction, you\u2019re safe to continue. This simple step is second nature for professionals caring for centuries-old treasures, but it\u2019s just as valuable at home, whether you\u2019re cleaning vintage furniture, family heirlooms or even just a mirror with an ornate frame you don\u2019t want to damage.<\/p>\n

More ways to clean your homeTip 5: Don\u2019t over-clean <\/strong><\/p>\n

When asked for her biggest piece of advice on caring for antiques and heirlooms, Karen\u2019s answer was unexpected: don\u2019t. Of course, she doesn\u2019t mean ignore them altogether \u2013 regular dusting is important to stop grime becoming ingrained or erosive, especially on stone or gilded surfaces \u2013 but her point is to go gently.<\/p>\n

\u2018Sometimes, water can be just as damaging as chemicals,\u2019 Karen warns. So, instead of going all in with soapy water or fancy cleaners, opt for a soft brush and a light touch, as they\u2019re often the safest approach. Over-cleaning \u2013 whether with sprays, polishes or even just too much handling \u2013 can actually stress already fragile materials, speeding up wear, rather than preventing it.<\/p>\n

Her rule of thumb? Keep an eye on treasured pieces, give them the light care they need, but resist the urge to overdo it. When it comes to antiques, less really is more.<\/p>\n

\"professionalJooney Woodward<\/p>\n

Getting ready to dust St. Paul\u2019s<\/p>\n

Tip 6: Always work top to bottom <\/strong><\/p>\n

Before tackling any space in the castle \u2013 whether it\u2019s the grand hall, the expansive dining room or even the slightly less medieval 21st-century offices \u2013 Caroline Connor always begins the same way: from the top. \u2018I always start from the ceiling and work down. It\u2019s amazing how much dust comes off the ceiling,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

\"professionalMark Harrison<\/p>\n

Start at the top!<\/p>\n

It might sound obvious, but at home many of us forget to look up, leaving cobwebs and dust lurking just above eye level. Worse still, if you clean your tables and carpets first, only to dislodge ceiling dust afterwards, you\u2019ll find yourself starting all over again. Think smarter, not harder. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Monday morning but, instead of my usual laptop and desk, I find myself in a lab coat,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471169,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5018,3,4],"tags":[748,26600,156917,1331,393,4884,3989,1330,1144,712,156916,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-471168","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-britain","8":"category-uk","9":"category-united-kingdom","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-content-type-advice","12":"tag-contentid-4c12abd7-c012-4fd5-8437-f8bce469b550","13":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","14":"tag-england","15":"tag-great-britain","16":"tag-hasproduct-true","17":"tag-locale-gb","18":"tag-northern-ireland","19":"tag-scotland","20":"tag-shorttitle-the-cleaning-hacks-the-pros-swear-by","21":"tag-uk","22":"tag-united-kingdom","23":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115310459282765687","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=471168"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471168\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/471169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=471168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=471168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=471168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}