Bruno Pin photo courtesy Flickr A young friend was grumbling about the crisp and nasty soot particles that accumulate on his San Francisco windowsills. He’s bugged enough to think about giving up a rent-controlled unit that costs half the going rate in a safe neighborhood. That may be a wise ambition, but he’ll be there for a while, so here are some suggestions. The first priority is respecting the landlord’s property.
The situation demands advanced housekeeping. First, if the weather is cool enough, seal the windows. Clean, close and lock them, then roll plastic produce bags and tuck them into any cracks using a screwdriver. If that doesn’t block the dust, cover the entire window frame with flexible plastic, such as a drop cloth, by using dressmaker’s pins or the smallest brads to secure one side of hook and loop tape to the join between window frame and plaster wall. Blunt the tip of a brad with a hammer to reduce the risk of cracking plaster. Test one pin-pounding it carefully into place will probably not damage the wall. Cut the hook and loop tape to half or a third its width to save money. Use the sticky-back that comes with the tape to secure the plastic to it. It may be possible to even the stress on the plastic glazing by heating it carefully with a hair dryer. Test first by taping some of the plastic to a frame, like a cardboard box. This is a low-impact version of nailing a sheet of Plexiglass to a window frame.
If the weather is too warm to seal the window, reduce the dust that enters by mounting old-fashioned sheer nylon curtain fabric on the window. Hook and loop tape would probably work, or make navy curtains by gathering the fabric on upper and lower rods (any dowel will work) and mounting it close to the window. For navy curtains, designed not to flap on a warship, sew a generous hem and then sew another seam close to the hem seam to contain the rod. Test on a sample. The little ruffled header that will appear when the curtain is gathered in place acts as a flexible barrier between curtain and sill. If the budget is very tight, skip the hook and loop tape and fold the fabric a couple of times over a strip of cardboard, then pin discreetly into place.
Sheer curtains are notorious dust traps, and I see no reason not to use that to advantage. They’ll also screen the active street below the window and the neighbors across the way. Wash the fabric before making the curtain, so there will be no unpleasant surprises when it’s washed again. Soak dirty curtains in cold water for an hour before washing, and wash them often. Vacuum them gently to keep them fresh.
Detail the rooms so they will be easy to clean. Wash or dust the ceiling and walls. Use washable high-tech synthetic cleaning cloths or a synthetic dusting wand. Keep a HEPA air filter running while you’re kicking up a dry mess. It may be wise to wear a dust mask. Wash the woodwork, baseboards, and floor. I prefer to use a neutral pH cleaner from a janitorial supply. Get the place truly clean, and then detail the woodwork and floors with paste wax or a synthetic floor polish. Shiny surfaces are easier to dust.
Windows attract dust, so keep them and the moldings around them scrupulously clean, unless they’re sealed. It’s like taking your shoes off when you enter the house. An urban situation might require daily dusting, but it is worth the effort. Keep the HEPA filter running when you’re working, whether you use a vacuum or hand tools. High-tech synthetic cloths are sanity-savers. For this kind of rigor, get rigorous tools. The janitorial community refers to cleaning as the process of diluting dirt. It’s easier to keep a place clean than to get it clean after it’s been neglected.
Manage a dusty home by keeping sills, walls, and floors clear of clutter so they will be easy to maintain. A photographer’s equipment dusting brush makes short work of windows and baseboards when used with a vacuum hose. The glass-front cabinets in my friend’s apartment are there to keep table accessories clean between meals. Old-style housekeepers stripped the table when no one was eating at it. It might make sense to weather-strip the cabinet doors as well as the doors on the kitchen cupboards. Narrow strips of felt adhered with liquid laundry starch may suit cupboard doors better than thicker exterior weather stripping. Starch is easy to reverse. Store nothing on the counters so they can be wiped clean before each cooking session. This is good practice in any kitchen. Wipe the floor daily with a damp cloth.
A housekeeping situation like this one generates self-pity, but it’s a good way to learn the best practice for any home. Living in the heart of town saves so much commuting time that a daily ten-minute cleaning session is still a good deal, considering what it does for one’s standard of living. Wiping the floor every day delays heavy maintenance, since the fine dust that settles in any place abrades the floor when someone walks on it. Dust on windows and sills holds humidity and pollutants that will eventually pit surfaces. It is dust that generates the mysteriously awful finishes on neglected furniture.
Just dust it. Store possessions in the closets. Weather-strip the closet doors to keep the contents clean. Cleanable rooms are also very livable ones. The absence of clutter frees the mind to concentrate and the body to work. Or to party. Dust glass-it’s a magnet for airborne particles.
Similar habits in the bathroom will keep the place fresh and decent all the time. Get the fixtures clean and then just wipe them down with a towel that’s on its way to the laundry. Navy curtains in an air shaft window will take the curse off that dismal view while protecting the room from soot. Wipe the sink after dressing, and you can keep it clean with nothing more than bar soap and a piece of nylon or 0000 steel wool. Test the steel wool in an inconspicuous area. Use a small tuft gently and discard it right away.
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