tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8386262.post-1161881810598291632007-01-04T16:56:00.000Z2007-01-06T17:27:34.416ZCleaning the floor tiles at Barley Hall: 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1942/566/1600/684022/bhtilevsm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1942/566/200/251608/bhtilevsm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The reproduction floor tile at <a href="http://www.barleyhall.org.uk/">Barley Hall </a>in York is a glorious centre-piece to the restored medieval house. However it's in need of a clean, and I volunteered to find out how to do this. The tiles were handmade by <a href="http://www.hudsonclaypotter.com/">John Hudson</a>, and have been walked by the visitors to the Hall for at least 15 years. The floor has been cleaned occasionally, but sparingly using modern cleaning materials. It now needs a deep clean, along with the rest of the Hall.<br /><br />I consulted the <a href="http://www.tilesoc.org.uk/">Tiles and Architectural Ceramics</a> website, and found their fact sheets <a href="http://www.tilesoc.org.uk/conservation1.htm">1 </a>and <a href="http://www.tilesoc.org.uk/conservation2.htm">2</a> of some use, though they are primarily aimed at cleaning Victorian or later tiles. Green '<a href="http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scotchbrite/products/scrubbing_sponges.html">Scotchbrite</a>' scourers were recommended to clean the surfaces, but I think it might not be applicable here - we'll be using the white 'non-stick' scourers, and even then, sparingly. It also turned out that some of the materials recommended were very difficult to get hold of. <a href="http://goodiesfromhome.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=626&osCsid=af3d8cbdc35590901c6df1e3594b88f4">Biotex</a> (a non-ionic cleaner, which won't interfere with the glazed surfaces of the tiles) no longer seems to be available. And distilled water is only available from laboratory suppliers. However de-ionised water was to be found on the shelves of hardwear stores, <a href="http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151">Halfords</a> and supermarkets. In the end, I consulted the a conservation laboratory who were very helpful. De-ionised water should be OK to use. They also recommended that I could try soap flakes as a cleaning agent, so I'll be trying that out tomorrow. We also have a small amount of specialised non-ionic detergent to use.<br /><br />Yesterday, I spent my time getting the equipment and materials required together. And today, I did a patch test to find out how the cleaning process would work. I've just typed out the instructions for the volunteer tile cleaners. Tomorrow, the real work will begin ...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16885693119390463576noreply@blogger.com