Removing bitumen from wood flooring

I have received numerous requests for information about removing bitumen from wood flooring so I thought it would be useful to go over it again.

Bitumen is used as an adhesive to stick wood flooring, particularly parquet and similar types of wood flooring. Over time the bitumen seeps up between the joints. This is exactly what happened to my own floors.My house was built with underfloor heating downstairs so the flooring on the ground floor is concrete covered with parquet

My wife and I decided to replace the carpet in the hall and stairs. I took up the existing carpet to make the job easier only to find a parquet floor in the hall. I could also see the floor continued into the lounge. After much persuasion my wife agreed to not replacing the carpet on the understanding that I did the maintenance.

After several attempts at sweeping the floor I managed to pick up all the dust. I then got down on my hands and knees (I could in those days!) and used Scotchbrite (a non scratch scourer) soaked in Heritage Woodcare. This gave the floor a real clean leaving it with a slight sheen and additionally also removed all the bitumen that had seeped up between the joints. Now all I have to do is clean the floor once per month and every time I sweep the floor it polishes it.

Heritage Woodcare is available online, visit www.heritagepolish.com/shop/heritage-woodcare/cat_2.html

Heritage Woodcare, Heritage Leathercasre. Green Angel Skincare, Paston Crafts availale from The Technocentre, Puma Way, Coventry

I thought it would be useful to go over the different ways you can order goods from DCK Services - Heritage Woodcare , Heritage Leathercare, Green Angel Skincare and Paston Crafts hand crafted fabric products.


The easiest and most convenient method is to go on my website - http://www.heritagepolish.com/ and order online. Payment is via Paypal which is very safe, your card details remain confidential and are not revealed. All the retailer is told is that a payment has been made and, as stated, we are not given your card details


Should you prefer, it is almost as easy to order by post. Send your order, with delivery address details and payment (cheque, cash or postal order) to :-
DCK Services,
The Technocentre,
Puma Way,
Coventry,
CV1 2TT

Web orders are usually processed and posted within 24 hours of receipt with mail orders taking a little longer - up to 7 days. However, holidays and sickness can lead to delays in processing orders.

All DCK products are available online, visit http://www.heritagepolish.com/

Rewaxing a wax jacket

My recent posts have been telling you about Heritage Leathercare and how you can use it, particularly on leather furniture and car seating, also clothing and footwear. In this post I intend to tell you how to use it to rewax a wax jacket.

Although Heritage Leathercare does have cleaning properties there are some instances where you may need to do a seperate clean (e.g. to remove bird droppings, etc.) In this instance I would suggest you "wash" these areas of the garment with pure soap. Make a solution of soap and water, dip in a soft, clean cloth, gently squeeze the cloth till you have taken most but not all the water out and wipe the areas you wish to clean. Make sure your coat is totally dry before going on to the next stage.

Take your tub of Heritage Leathercare and the sponge (provided), wipe the sponge across the surface of the polish removing any surplus by wiping the loaded sponge across the inside edge of the tub. You then simply wipe the loaded sponge on your jacket in circular motions ensuring you do not leave the jacket greasy. Assuming your jacket is not greasy, when you have finished wiping, it is now ready for wear, clean, rewaxed and water resistant.

You can obtain Heritage leathercare online, visit www.heritagepolish.com/shop/heritage-leathercare/cat_4.html

How to clean and polish leather clothing and footwear- jackets and fashion boots

In my recent posts I have been telling you about Heritage Leathercare, in particular, how to use it on leather furniture. I will now tell you about other uses for it.

Heritage Leathercare is ideal for use on leather clothing and footwear and being colourless, it can be used on any colour. Heritage Leathercare feeds, polishes and protects your leather whilst leaving a water resistant finish - this makes it perfect for motorbike leathers in particular.

Take your tub of Heritage and load your sponge (provided) by wiping it over the surface of the polish. Remove any surplus by wiping the sponge across the inside edge of your tub. You are now ready and proceed by simply wiping your loaded sponge in circular motions on your leather taking care not to leave the leather greasy. As long as the treated leather is not greasy the job is done. If, however, the leather is greasy to the touch, you will need to buff up using a soft dry cloth.

Following the above instructions, you can use Heritage Leathercare on clothing (jackets, skirts, trousers, motorbike leathers, etc.) and footwear. It is specially recommended for boots and shoes- leather fashion boots particularly which can be so difficult to keep clean. Using Heritage, the job can be completed in minutes. It is recommended that clothing and footwear used only in the winter are treated with Heritage before being stored.

Heritage Leathercare is available online, visit www.heritagepolish.com/shop/heritage-leathercare/cat_4.html

What is the best product for my leather.

Having introduced you to Heritage Leathercare in my last post, I thought I ought to tell you something about it.


Made in their Dublin facility by Drigate Products Heritage Leathercare (sometimes known as Celtic Leathercare) is a traditional 19th century leather balsam containing original, old fashioned ingredients which include beeswax. These are well known in the trade for protecting and revalising the leather used in leathercraft (and indeed the stitching). Many craftspeople and proffessionals will voch for its tried and tested formula.

The results obtained with Heritage Leathercare are instantaneous yet are long lasting. Newer leather productsbenefit from a shine and protection unsurpassed by modern polishes not containing our ingredients whilst older, tired leather is left revitalised and more supple.

Heritage Leathercare is generally regarded as one of the most ecomical on the market in this day and age.

You can obtain Heritage Leathercare online online, visit www.heritagepolish.com/shop/heritage-leathercare/cat_4.html

How do I care for my leather suite?

A number of people have been checking my website whilst I have been away looking for help with caring for their leather suites. In all cases they are new suites and the correspondents were wanting help with keeping them looking like new.

Heritage Leathercare feeds, polishes and protects leather leaving a water resistant finish and is very easy to use It is also colourless so can be used on any colour. Another advantage of your Heritage is that it will clean most colours. White and similar pale colours may, however, need washing first. To do this, wash with pure soap (Dreft, soap flakes, etc.) and dry thoroughly making sure your leather is totally dry before applying your Heritage.

Using the sponge provided, wipe it across the surface of the polish and remove any excess by wiping across the inside edge of the tub. Then apply to your leather suite by wiping very sparingly, in circular motions. On completion, your suite should not be greasy to the touch. If it is greasy, buff it up using a clean, dry and soft cloth.

To keep your leather furniture in a supple condition and looking good it is recommended that you apply your Heritage Leathercare 3 or 4 times per year as a minimum.

Heritage Leathercare can be obtained online, visit www.heritagepolish.com/shop/heritage-leathercare/cat_4.html

I am back from my holiday.

I am back from my holiday. I have been to Madeira for a week.

Visiting their capital, Funchall, it is absolutely amazing. You would never realise that only a few short weeks ago several thousand (I was told 200,000 but I cannot vouch for the validity of that figure) tons of rock, rubble, trees and mud, along with up to 5 million (and possibly more) litres of water poured into this city following days of rain and bad weather. I was told it happened late morning so it is possibly surprising there wasn't a greater loss of life.

Last week, when my wife and I visited, there was very little sign of the devastation this must have caused. It shows what happens when everyone pulls together.

There are up to 4 or cruise ships a day visiting Funchall. I don't think I have ever seen so many cruise ships at one time before.