Sunday, March 29, 2015

Spring Cleaning: A Broom Cupboard Alternative

Chronica Domus
Natural bristle, lambswool, and feathers beautifully crafted into traditional cleaning tools lined up on Shaker pegs
Photo: Chronica Domus


With the onset of spring, and the crescendo of excited birdsong penetrating the azure skies outdoors, I am compelled to throw open the windows, let in the fresh air, and begin the ritual of spring cleaning. I may even join the birds and attempt a jaunty little tune of my own, but on second thought, I have the most dreadful singing voice and wouldn't want to frighten them all away with my ear-splitting pitch.

For years, I've been buying and using traditional and beautiful cleaning tools to help get my house and its contents "shipshape and Bristol fashion".  I love that expression and it was one I heard many times during my youth, uttered from the mouths of impatient schoolmistresses hastening us girls to put away equipment in the science laboratory, or on the playing field (hockey sticks anyone?) at the conclusion of our lessons.

My mother taught my sisters and I well.  Each Saturday morning, we would help her dust every surface of furniture with the aid of our little yellow dusting cloths, while she carefully attended to various ceramics and bibelots with feather duster and soft bristle brush in hand. The weekly routine of dusting not only taught us to care for our possessions, but it was a ritual that was strangely therapeutic and even gratifying. We reaped the benefits of our hard work instantly; a clean and orderly house to be enjoyed by all.

You will be hard pressed to find a neon-colored plastic-handled broom, brush, or cleaning gadget around here (vacuum cleaner excluded, of course).  No, I much prefer my tools to be made of natural materials, which are aesthetically pleasing to gaze upon, more environmentally friendly, and a joy to use.  I own both new and old tools (found in junk shops and the like), and whenever I travel, I am always on the lookout for them.  When in London last, I happened upon a wonderful shop called Labour and Wait, which afforded me the opportunity of adding a sturdy enamel dustpan and a soft natural bristle brush, both made in England, to my cache.

Chronica Domus
My classic English enamel dustpan and natural bristle brush are indispensable for ridding the floors of debris (and so much nicer to look at than the ubiquitous plastic variety)
Photo: Chronica Domus


Chronica Domus
This vintage horsehair Lietz brush, discovered in a junk shop, makes dusting woodwork child's play as it caresses each and every recess with ease
Photo: Chronica Domus


Last year, I purchased a fine German goat hair duster with a beautifully turned pear wood handle that I found among the offerings at Good Grey, a little jewel of a shop tucked away in one of Petaluma's historic buildings. The proprietress of Good Grey stocks her small mercantile with an array of attractive household goods that are both utilitarian and beautifully made.

Chronica Domus
Not only does this goat hair duster do a fine job of removing dust, it is also quite beautifully constructed - I adore the little black dot of contrasting hair which adds a certain flair to an otherwise utilitarian object
Photo: Chronica Domus


As with many older modestly-sized houses, and ours is no exception, closet space is very limited so our household does not enjoy the luxury of a dedicated broom cupboard in the proximity of our living quarters.  We are, however, fortunate to have a full basement at our disposal, but that is not an ideal place to keep cleaning tools that need to be hurriedly pressed into service when dried ingredients fall upon the kitchen floor, or whenever stray dog hairs are spotted lurking beneath the sofa that necessitate sweeping with alacrity.

An old-fashioned horsehair broom soon gets the wooden floors spick and span without scratching
Photo: Chronica Domus


With this in mind, I recently conceived of an exceedingly practical solution as to where I might best store my beautiful cleaning tools which had thus far been shamefully and unceremoniously crammed into the cupboard beneath my kitchen sink. If any of you are familiar with the simplicity and practicality of Shaker design, you will already know all about the genius of those humble little Shaker pegs.

Chronica Domus
A row of practical shaker pegs transforms an area of the back stairwell into a very useful space
Photo: Chronica Domus


My very handy husband attached seven evenly spaced pegs to the wooden railing atop the wainscoting by the kitchen door in the back stairwell leading to our basement. I procured a small quantity of brown leather lace and set to work threading it through the convenient pre-existing holes on the dustpan and brushes.

Chronica Domus
Brown leather lace is threaded through the handles of my cleaning tools allowing for hanging
Photo: Chronica Domus


For those tools, such as the horsehair broom, that did not possess a hole in their handle, one was quickly made using an electric drill. The brushes and dusters could now be hung neatly on their new pegs creating a well-ordered alternative to a broom cupboard, and one that was conveniently placed right beside my kitchen door.

Chronica Domus
An orderly solution to a broom cupboard with everything in its place and easily accessible
Photo: Chronica Domus


Now, the only item I've yet to find a home for is the horsehair broom, but it is such a beautiful object, it wouldn't look so out of place propped up against a wall would it?  One could not possibly say that about a ratty old neon-colored plastic broom.

Chronica Domus
I've found no better broom to whisk away dirt and dust than this horsehair model with a sufficiently long handle for ease of use, important to us taller ladies
Photo: Chronica Domus


We all need to dust away the odd cobweb from time to time, or sweep up an errant crumb, so why not join me in adding a little beauty to the home by forgoing the army of luridly colored, plastic-handled, synthetic bristle brushes and brooms and instead seek out traditionally made cleaning tools. Not only will you find them handsome to the eye, but they will outperform synthetic bristles and last for years.

Do you enjoy cleaning your home, spring or otherwise, or do you rely on domestic help?  Which tools do you find indispensable when it comes to the matter of dust-busting?

 Nota bene: I am neither paid nor do I receive recompense in exchange for applauding products or services within my blog.  I do so because I enjoy them.  If you are a kindred spirit, you too enjoy recommending nice things to fellow good eggs.

31 comments:

  1. What I cannot find is a proper, well-made, old-fashioned "crumber" set for the dining table. The one I use for the kitchen floor isn't suitable, but I have been known in a moment of inattention to hoover the dining table. Love the green paint, by the way. Maybe when next in London ...

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    1. Hello Blue,

      I'd completely forgotten about those table crumber sets, which I recall from my childhood. I think my mother's guests would have died right there and then if the hoover made an appearance at table! However, in a pinch...

      Glad you liked the paint color, which was inspired by a similar one found in the house but long-ago painted over.

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    2. Blue - i have one with an inset brush and a "silent butler" style crumb catcher. Let me know if you're interested and I will add it to my etsy store.

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  2. So very good-looking! I recently hung my cleaning stuff from jacket hooks that just happened to grace my laundry room, and even that cruddy little solution makes me super duper happy.

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    1. Thank you, LPC. The smallest step towards order always makes me super duper happy too.

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  3. What a great post....and what a good idea. I must do this. So much nicer to do the dusting and sweeping if one has a beautiful tool!

    I think I'm going to like your blog!

    Ciao

    R

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    1. Hello Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond, and welcome!

      It really is so much nicer to dust and sweep with the aid of a tool that would have been recognizable to those that dusted a century ago. I've seen some odd-looking cleaning tools in a rainbow of colors but none look as nice as the traditional dusters and brushes I use.

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  4. Hello CD, I just looked over my cleaning implements, and there doesn't seem to be much that would pass muster in your house. I do have a wool duster with a wooden handle, but the wool is dyed fluorescent red! While not as traditional as a wooden peg and leather thong, I do like those clips that can hold a broom to a wall (with no pressure on the bristles), and these are even available as antiques.

    For the reader who cannot locate a crumber or silent butler, antique ones are virtually a drug on the market, and even silver examples can be located reasonably. I brought to Taiwan an old Fuller one with a rotary brush that works well, and although plastic, is at least 1950's vintage.

    If you ever make it over here, there are traditional shops that only sell brooms, brushes, buckets, etc., all made of natural materials like straw and bamboo.
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim,

      I can well imagine the exciting sights of the traditional shops you mention in your area of the world, something I'd like to see for myself one day. I've always admired the skill required to make a useful and beautiful item from natural materials (baskets, clay pots, brushes), so I know I'd be in heaven visiting one of your local shops.

      I had to laugh at the description of your fluorescent red wool duster. I can see the color being a popular choice where you live.

      Thank you for the reminder of the rotary brush crumber. I recall those too, now you mention it, along with the larger version on a handle that one would clean the carpets with.

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  5. Lovely - so agreed with you - our tools should be beautiful as yours are. The only exception I have (other than the vacuum you also mention) is a Michael Graves (may he RIP) designed dustpan and broom which I do love....it just fits the hand so well. John Derian carries a lot of these hard to find bristles and brooms -why shouldn't the things we use everyday be beautiful? Plastic be banned!

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    1. Hello AD,

      So glad you agree with me that everyday items should hold some degree of beauty, and that plastic should be banished. Now, who out there will be the first to design an aesthetically pleasing toothbrush (so tired of those lurid colors)? I'll be the first in line to buy one.

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    2. I used to get "tortoise" shell handled toothbrushes at Pearl River Mart in Chinatown NY. They don't carry them anymore. But you might check shops in Chinatown SF.

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    3. Thank you for the tip. I had no idea they even existed, and now that I do I shall not rest until I find one for myself.

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  6. CD these posts of yours assure me that all is right in the world!
    What an attractive set of cleaning brushes. I collect them too, in fact I spent the weekend painting and sorting my laundry room which serves as a cleaning headquarters in my house, now I need to find spots for my good brushes and tools, thank you so much for the inspiration.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Dani,

      Isn't it funny how a little wooden handled brush or broom can not only make our world a little cleaner, but a lot brighter too! I'm happy to have inspired you to seek out an appropriate place befitting your collection of cleaning tools. Are your loyal readers to expect a post from you soon? Hoping so.

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    2. My Dear CD,
      Dani even has your Shaker Pegs posted on Pinterest so deeply touched she. I must say that bristle brushes and dust pans only hold GSL's attention when brandished by a French maid attired vixen. CD, you must be 7 feet tall !

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    3. Hello GSL,

      If I was truly seven feet tall, I'd have little need for my long-handled lambswool duster now would I? It is a particularly useful tool when rounding up the odd cobweb that lurks in the highest recesses of my ceilings. Oh, and I do speak a little French but maid attire is not quite my thing.

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  7. In a world of disposable this and that I love the quality tools for weekly cleaning. I thoroughly enjoy cleaning our home...I know this is a weird admission to some, but it's true.
    I will check the link you've shared, thanks CD.
    Karen

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    1. Hello Karen,

      I'm so glad you share my philosophy on quality tools for a good cleaning, tools that will be used and enjoyed for years.

      I think it marvelous that you enjoy your weekly clean, and why not? Pop on some snappy music, grab your duster and let the fun begin!

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  8. Two things: I missed going to Labour & Wait in London, as I heard about it directly after I got back from my great friend Rosie (search for westbuzztoyou on Instagram) who said she got a great duster there. Second, I was at my mother's the other day and needed to use a broom - it was the beautiful hair broom we've had since i was a child.

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    1. You'll have to plan a special trip to Shorditch to visit L&W next time you find yourself in London. The area is fascinating although a little off the beaten track if you are taking The Tube.

      How nice to read that your childhood broom is still in good use. Several years ago I attended an estate sale of a hardware shop that had been in probate for decades. Everything for sale had been frozen in time and I managed to lay my hands on a 1930's 24" wide horsehair broom head in its original box, among other treasures. I doubt I'll ever need to buy another broom or brush again.

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  9. I like your wooden handle brushes. I'm not a fan of plastic and would much rather have a nice second hand wooden handled brush than a modern one. Recently I bought several lovely wooden handled shoe brushes of various shapes and sizes and sat down to several hours of shoe polishing!
    Lovely word 'Bibelots' by the way. Not much used these days. Last time I heard it I was watching Mapp and Lucia.

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    1. Oh yes, I too favor wooden shoe brushes with natural bristles and have found both new and old examples to aid in polishing my shoes. They are simply the best!

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  10. Wow! Giving importance to traditional cleaning tools is amazing. Organizing them like that is really a nice and clever hack. Also, using those tools can help you hit two birds with one stone, cleaning and exercising. It's really fulfilling and enjoyable to see your home all nice and clean, right? In any way, thanks for sharing that! Hope your spring cleaning was a success. All the best to you!

    Frank George @ Dutch Hollow Supplies

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    1. Hello Frank George,

      Yes, a clean and orderly home is good for the soul and I suppose does burn up a few calories (not a bad deal!).

      Thank you for visiting and I hope you come back again soon.

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  11. I just love the feather duster-- that's not something you see every day! It's so rare to see an actual feather duster now due to all of the new dusting inventions so it's nice to see someone using one every now and again. They are such a classic and look so chic. I don't think I've ever heard of a lambswool duster! I'll have to look into those

    Bo Tolbert @ HJS Supply Co.

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    1. Hello Bo Tolbert,

      There's noting as charming as the older cleaning implements and they work very effectively. You'll enjoy using a lambswool duster so I encourage you to seek one out. It is particularly effective in capturing cobwebs and such.

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  12. Replies
    1. Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

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    2. I too like beautifully crafted cleaning tools. I would especially like to find a wooden broom to clean (not scratch) our wooden floor! But I cannot find them anywhere in Melbourne, Australia! Any suggestions about where I might get one and brand names would be great!

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    3. Hello Mel Simpson,

      Pleased to know there is another kindred spirit who appreciates traditional cleaning tools. I was just using my beautiful broom today, in fact, and I can tell you it makes sweeping such an enjoyable task. Although I purchased my horsehair broom locally, it was made in Germany by a company called Redecker. Perhaps you could search around some Australian web sites and see who stocks it.

      Do let me know how you get on.

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