Volcano cleaning

Stranded

My mother-in-law has only just got back from her weekend away in Salzburg. She, like so many others, was stranded as the volcanic ash cloud plodded its way across Europe. Unlike so many others, though, for her there was a silver lining to this ash cloud.

She was staying with family, so she ended up just getting an extra week with her nearest and dearest.

Home from Home

Luckily for me, I didn’t go away over Easter because I was tending to a group of exclusive apartments in the centre of London. They’re such beautiful places: like hotel suites, with more personality. Honestly I thoroughly enjoy cleaning them.
As I was lovingly gathering up all of my little dust friends from a coffee-table overlooking the river, I thought of that volcano spewing out ash, lava and steam. It got me thinking about the clean-up job that those poor folk in Iceland have ahead of them. On the news people in Ireland were also talking about centimetre thick ash settling on their cars. Some of that ash will, of course, sneak its way into homes across English as well. The nearer to the west coast the more they’ll get, I guess.

Volcanic Chaos

When I got home I looked up how best to deal with volcanic ash, so I can provide the best for my clients when they ask. I’m assuming we’re not likely to have piles of ash bearing down our English doors, but surely the dust will have to find a home somewhere.
I was astonished by this other world of cleaning I found – one I’d never even considered before. A world in which cleaners are advised to wear a dust-mask, goggles and adhere to local regulations when cleaning. It’s incredible to think people deal with this kind of mess on a regular basis. Like I said, it’s another world!

How to Deal With Volcanic Ash at Home

Residents are advised to spray water on all surfaces to reduce the chance of inhaling ash dust, and to not bother starting cleaning inside until outside is clear. It seems the most useful domestic tool is a vacuum cleaner. Everything should be vacuumed rather than brushed or wiped.
When cleaning inside apparently one shouldn’t ‘wipe’, but dab, because the ash is abrasive and will scratch surfaces. A tack cloth seems the tool of choice for wood.
It’s better to throw away cloths and/or wipes rather than wash them because the ash will clog up the drains.
Wash a few clothes at a time with more detergent so there is lots of water and soap to wash away that troublesome ash.
This stuff isn’t dust, is it?!

A Little Treat

My mother-in-law lives in Bristol. She’s already missed a week’s work and is faced with a house to clean as well when she gets home. As a little treat I got in touch with our sister company in Bristol – Cleaner Bristol – and arranged for a team to go and sort her place out. Being a newly qualified volcano –ash expert (thanks to the internet!), I let them know about these little hints I learnt from our near-a-volcano living global neighbours. Her house will look fab when she gets in now.