What makes cleaning a historic home different?

Original surfaces are irreplaceable. Milk-painted woodwork, unsealed marble, horsehair plaster, wide-plank pine, and antique brass all fail under standard all-purpose cleaners. We identify each material first and match the method to it.

Do you clean plaster walls and original woodwork?

Yes, using dry methods and pH-neutral solutions only. We never saturate plaster, and we hand-clean woodwork rather than running a wet mop or steam against it.

Can you work in a home on the National Register?

We regularly clean listed and district-contributing homes in Hudson, Rhinebeck, Kingston, and Catskill. We document the surfaces we touch and follow any preservation guidance your architect or steward provides.

How do you handle marble and natural stone?

Neutral cleaners only, no acidic or abrasive products. For existing etching or staining we advise on poultice treatment rather than attempting an aggressive fix that would remove more stone.

Do you offer seasonal deep cleans for period homes?

Yes. Twice-yearly deep cleans catch what recurring service can't reach — chandeliers, transoms, radiator interiors, sash windows, and behind heavy antique furniture.

Historic & Period Homes Pillar

Historic Home Cleaning

Federal and Greek Revival houses in Hudson, Rhinebeck, and Kingston — and Victorian-era mining homes in the Roaring Fork Valley — are full of surfaces a standard crew will quietly ruin. We survey the materials first, then clean each one the way conservators recommend.

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Illustration showing historic home cleaning in action - professional cleaners performing detailed work in a pristine home environment

The Details

What's included (a.k.a. the good stuff)

Material survey before the first clean — plaster, stone, wood, metal

pH-neutral, non-abrasive products on all original finishes

Dry methods for plaster walls, medallions, and mouldings

Hand care for milk paint, shellac, and original varnish

Marble and soapstone cleaning without etching

Antique brass, iron, and copper hardware treated appropriately

Sash window, transom, and radiator detail work

Written notes on any deterioration we spot

How It Works

Four steps to clean bliss

Step 1

Walkthrough and survey

We walk the house with you and record every finish that needs special handling before anyone opens a bottle.

Step 2

Written care plan

You get a per-room plan naming the product and method for each surface — approved by you before we start.

Step 3

Preservation-safe cleaning

Neutral chemistry, controlled moisture, soft tools. Nothing acidic, abrasive, or steam-driven near original material.

Step 4

Condition reporting

After each visit we flag anything changing — a lifting finish, a damp patch, a loose baluster — so small problems stay small.

FAQ

Questions? We've got answers.

Learn the subject

Free guides from our crews

Everything below is written to be useful whether or not you ever hire us.

Proof

How to check us out

5.0 stars across 20 Google reviews you can read in full on our Google profile. We're licensed, insured and bonded, and you can see the finish we work to in the gallery.

Read client reviews See the standard Insurance & guarantee

Why Clients Trust Us

Insured, vetted, and accountable — on paper, not just in words

Insured & bonded

$1M general liability coverage and bonding on every job, with a certificate of insurance available on request.

Background-checked crews

Every team member is background-checked before their first client visit — no exceptions.

One-business-hour response

Quotes and questions get a real reply within one business hour, not a form-letter callback queue.

A documented process

Request, flat-rate quote, scheduled visit, documented clean, quality check, follow-up — the same six steps every time.

Insurance & guarantee →Our process →Read reviews →

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