new methods

the loft decarpetation has reached both sides of the front section.  the method for treating the exposed floorboards has left more than little to be desired in the way of efficacy so the time has come for a bit of experimentation. 

(in fossicking about for the right tool to use I ran up against one of those moments that come to those of us of a certain age: even though I've lived here for over 15 years -- long enough to have become familiar with the location of most objects in the place -- the stiff-bristled scrub brush stubbornly refused to turn up in the cleaning closet or any of the other likely hiding places.  this seemed like a bit of a puzzle until I realized that I had been looking into the mental overlay of some other cleaning closet, who knows how many houses ago.)

the desired approach would yield a more vigorous scrubbing while keeping the level of abrasion below that of outright sanding.  with that in mind the implement of choice became one of those tub/tile scrubbers whose contact surface is plastic but looks kinda like steel wool. 

with a couple of squirts of Murphy Oil Soap and a heavy handed application (two hands, actually, backed up with lots of body mass) it is removing plenty of dirt and paint spatter without any apparent harm to the wood.  it fills up with dirt and grime pretty quickly but responds well to hot running water in the sink. 

(click through this thumbnail for higher definition image)

new methods

the image above shows the test results, from L to R:

• 3 boards: untreated area
• 5 boards: new method
• 1 board: control group
• 1 board: new method
• 2 boards: previous method