Cleaning Lots of Glass
Another big time-consuming cleaning chore is checked off the "to do" list at my Bedford, New York farm.
Yesterday, Carlos, Enma, and Elvira took on the task of cleaning all the precious glass objects stored on the shelves in my Winter House Brown Room - American cut glass, pressed glass, blown glass, vases, candlesticks, bowls, valuable crystals, in all different sizes, some some very old, and some new. Cleaning these items takes time and a lot of elbow grease to complete, but now these pieces are shimmering once again.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Along one wall of my Brown Room, I have deep shelves filled with precious glass and crystal. Every so often it is a good idea to take stock in these pieces and clean them so they’re ready for the next special occasion or holiday.
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- All these pieces are quite delicate, so they need to be washed by hand and not in the dishwasher.
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- These vases have not been used in awhile. In fact, because of the pandemic, most of these pieces haven’t been used in more than a year. Many have developed a bit of dust and are due for this cleaning.
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- One can see the dust on this carafe – it’s no longer shiny, but dull.
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- Each piece is removed from the shelf carefully one by one.
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- For washing glass and crystal that is well-maintained, use a mild dish soap and a soft sponge. For pieces that have developed tannin and lime deposits, add some white vinegar.
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- To get into tight, narrow spaces, one may also need a variety of soft bottle brushes. To make them even softer, one can be wrapped with a small dishcloth before using.
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- Enma holds this bud vase securely in one hand as she gently rubs with the soapy sponge – never use scouring pads or abrasive cleansers.
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- Enma rinses with warm water. It’s important to always use just-warm water, not hot. And never rinse with cold water. Extreme temperatures can cause cracks or breakage.
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- And here’s a good thing to remember – whenever washing anything delicate in the sink, always line the bottom of the sink with a towel, just in case the object slips or accidentally hits the surface.
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- After rinsing, dry immediately with a clean, lint-free towel to prevent spotting.
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- While Enma washes, Carlos dries – it is a very efficient production line process. The rims and stems are naturally the weakest parts, so hold the pieces gently but securely and avoid lots of twisting.
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- For drying very tight areas, Elvira wraps a bamboo skewer with a piece of paper towel.
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- And then gently wipes the inside.
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- This allows one to get into all the crevices without scratching the glass.
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- Next, Carlos washes this heavy glass container.
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- As pieces are washed, place them on a dry towel next to the sink. Always save old hand towels – they’re great for these chores.
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- Once the shelves are emptied, they too must be cleaned. Here, Carlos dusts each shelf with a dry cloth.
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- Look closely and one can see the light layer of dust – these shelves were definitely due for a cleaning.
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- Guests always admire my open cabinet shelving. I designed these custom slat walls on the inside of my cabinets to secure the shelves – they can be adjusted to so many different levels.
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- Carlos dusts each shelf and cabinet completely.
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- And remember the dusty carafe – here it is, clean, shiny and bright.
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- I instructed the team to place all the glass objects on top of soft flannel sheets on my long dining table. The next task is to put everything back on the shelves – I will go through this vast collection and decide what will be returned to the shelves and what can go elsewhere. Care should always be taken when handling and stacking items – they should never touch each other.
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- These pieces look so beautiful. I am looking forward to when it’s safe for us to gather and entertain family and friends once again.
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