We had the honor of accompanying Anette on her cleaning adventure at Vilhelmina Church. It is a special and exciting task that requires care and knowledge of historic environments. Anette shares important insights into 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 as she cleans the church in Vilhelmina.

Exciting and quite unusual cleaning. In this blog, you will get a glimpse of 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 church property management and the care of the furnishings lies with each parish, so it is important to be both careful and well-informed, and meticulous when cleaning such a special building as a church.
The requirements for cleaning a church are especially demanding, given 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 merely a church but also an important historic environment in which the work of local craftspeople and artists plays a major role in preserving the area’s history. Even though the management of the churches is handled by the parish itself, it is 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 also cannot be too forceful; you have to use soft brushes and cloths and take painted and delicate surfaces into consideration. Churches with medieval altarpieces or other very old decorations should be cleaned by a conservator. “Yes, that is how careful you actually have to be,” 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 light. 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 intended for dusting delicate surfaces high up. It is made of extra-soft goat hair.

 

The picture above on the left shows a special natural-fiber brush intended for removing cobwebs. It may be needed where cobwebs can hide, for example behind pipes or in corners.
The picture on the right …. – Yes, here we have simply been “snooping” 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, based on drawings by Axel Almfelt, and is made of wood. Therefore, there are no frescoes to preserve; instead, the walls and pews are decorated with impressive faux-marbling paintings. An interesting part of the church’s construction history is that, when the church was built, each village association in the parish had to contribute a number of days’ work and a certain amount of sawn timber. For example, the men of Nästansjö made the ironwork for the bridge railing from bog iron, and the church door’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, though it has fewer seats. Today, the church accommodates 500 people.

Many thanks for letting us join you in cleaning the church!

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Free SHIPPING when you order any of the bundles below!

 

The February bundle with soap and a panel brush from Irishantverk gives you free shipping on your entire order, regardless of weight or order value. Order the bundle with either 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 because of its historical 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 designed to remove cobwebs, which are common in church interiors where spiders can hide.

 

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

 

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

To clean a church most effectively, we therefore recommend Västerbottenssåpa Starter Kit and Window Cleaner for Glass and Mirrors. Find a brush that best suits your floor and needs!