Five Glasgow flat quirks (and how we clean around them)
Sandstone, sash windows, original fireplaces, communal closes, listed-status walls. The five things that make Glasgow flats charming, and how we clean around them without damage.
Glasgow tenements look gorgeous because they are full of original detail. They are also a pain to clean if you treat them like a new-build. After cleaning hundreds of West End and Southside flats, these are the five quirks worth planning for.
1. Sandstone window reveals
Many Glasgow tenement bay windows have exposed sandstone reveals or sandstone window sills. Do not use bleach, ammonia or anything acidic. Sandstone is porous and bleach pulls iron oxides to the surface, leaving a permanent rust-coloured stain. Soft brush plus warm water with a dab of pH-neutral soap is the only safe routine clean.
2. Single-glazed sash and case windows
Sashes drop dust into the lower track and accumulate Glasgow city grit. Open the lower sash, vacuum the track with a brush nozzle, then run a damp cotton bud along the corners. Never spray glass cleaner onto the wooden frame. Mist a microfibre cloth and wipe instead.
3. Original fireplaces and tiled hearths
Many flats have decorative cast-iron and Victorian tile surrounds even where the fire itself is sealed off. The cast iron rusts if water is left on it. Wipe with a barely-damp cloth and immediately follow with a dry cloth. The tiles tolerate normal floor cleaner; the iron does not.
4. Communal close floors
Most tenement closes have a shared rota or a factor that cleans the close itself, but the entrance section inside your front door is your problem. Hoover the doormat outside, wipe the inside threshold, and check the back of the front door for mud splash.
5. Original lath-and-plaster walls
Older internal walls are lath-and-plaster, not modern plasterboard. They are softer and more absorbent. Magic Eraser used too vigorously will pull the paint finish. Test on a low-visibility patch first, and use light pressure.
What about listed buildings?
A few West End and Park District flats are inside listed buildings. The interior of your flat is rarely listed itself, but anything visible from outside (windows, original doors, the close stair) usually is. ScrubClub avoids any abrasive product on listed-element surfaces by default. See the West End area page for what we do and where we cover.
Where can we book a clean for our Glasgow tenement?
ScrubClub runs domestic cleans, deep cleans and end of tenancy cleans across all Glasgow postcodes. Get a quote in under a minute.