We had the honor of joining Anette on her cleaning adventure at Vilhelmina Church. It is a special and exciting task that requires care and knowledge of historical environments. Anette shares important insights on cleaning the church, using gentle cleaning methods, and choosing the right tools for the job.

Last edited on May 7, 2024

We had the honor of accompanying Anette while she cleans the church in Vilhelmina.

Exciting and quite unusual cleaning. In this blog, you’ll get to see a little from our “work experience” and, of course, learn some of Anette’s wisdom.

This is Anette, who is responsible for cleaning, among other places, the church in Vilhelmina.

Anette tells us that responsibility for the management of church properties and the care of their furnishings lies with each parish, so it is important to be gentle, knowledgeable, and thorough when cleaning such a special building as a church.
The requirements for cleaning a church are particularly demanding, considering that few buildings are as old as churches often are while still being used for their original purpose.

Anette points out that the church is not just a church but also an important historical environment where the work of local craftspeople and artists plays a major role in preserving the area’s history. Although the parish itself manages the churches, it is also subject to, for example, the Cultural Heritage Act.

 

You have to be very careful when cleaning a church.

It is not like in other public buildings, where you repaint when necessary. You have to remember to use gentle cleaning products in moderate to small quantities. You cannot be too rough either; you have to use soft brushes and cloths and take painted and sensitive surfaces into consideration. Churches with medieval altarpieces or other very old decorations should be cleaned by a conservator. “Yes, it really is that meticulous,” Anette explains.

 

Anette uses a very, very soft goat-hair brush for the painted moldings and the church’s magnificent chandeliers. An extra-long, telescopic handle is useful here.

The shaft is made of aluminum to keep it lightweight. The shaft can actually be made up to 4 m 10 cm long. With a special joint, you can also angle the brush attached to the shaft so that you can reach moldings and cornices. This brush is designed to dust delicate surfaces high up. It is made of extra-soft goat hair.

 

The image above on the left shows a special natural-fiber brush designed to remove cobwebs. It may be needed wherever cobwebs can hide, for example behind pipes or in corners.
The image on the right …. – Yes, here we have simply been “snooping” around in Anette’s cleaning cupboard. Gentle, soft, and natural is the theme!

 

More pictures from the “work-experience day”

 

“Caretaker” Benny and cleaning and church expert Anette Nilsson

 

About Vilhelmina Church

About Vilhelmina Church Vilhelmina Church was built in the Neoclassical style between 1835 and 1840 according to designs by Axel Almfelt. It is made of wood, so there are no ceiling paintings to preserve; instead, the walls and pews are decorated with impressive faux-marble paintings. An interesting part of the church’s construction history is that when the church was built, each village community in the parish had to contribute a number of days’ work and a certain amount of sawn timber. For example, the men of Nästansjö crafted the ironwork for the bridge railing from bog iron, and the church gate’s weather seal is actually made of bear fur. The church was inaugurated in 1840 and could then accommodate 900 people, but after a renovation it is now more functional and has fewer seats. Today, the church accommodates 500 people.

Thank you so much for letting us join you in cleaning the church!

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Free SHIPPING when you order any of the packages below!

 

The February package with soap and a panel brush from Irishantverk gives you free shipping on the entire order, regardless of weight or order value. Order the package with a regular panel brush or a coarse brush and use the code: februari at checkout to deduct SEK 55, equivalent to the shipping cost.

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 Questions and Answers

 

- What special requirements apply to cleaning a church compared with other public buildings?
Cleaning a church requires extra care due to its historic and delicate nature, and gentle cleaning methods and tools must be used.

 

- What type of brush is used to scrub painted trim and chandeliers in the church?
Anette uses a very soft brush made of goat hair, specially designed to gently clean delicate surfaces.

 

- What is a cobweb brush, and why is it useful when cleaning churches?
A cobweb brush is a natural-fiber brush intended to remove cobwebs, which are common in church interiors where spiders can hide.

 

- What is the history of Vilhelmina Church, and what unique details are found in its construction?
Vilhelmina Church was built in the Neoclassical style in the 1830s and has impressive faux-marble paintings on the walls and church pews. The church also has unique details, such as bear fur used to seal the church entrance and an ironwork bridge railing made by the village residents of Nästansjö.

 

- What offer is available for orders of the February bundles with soap and a panel brush from Irishantverk?
Free shipping is offered for the entire order when ordering the February bundles with a regular panel brush or coarse brush and using the code "februari" at checkout.

To best clean a church, we therefore recommend the Soapa Starter Pack and Window Cleaner for Glass and Mirrors. Find a brush that best suits your floor and needs!