CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF OTHER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY ITEMS

In addition to linens, hangings, and vestments, you will need to know how to clean and maintain other ecclesiastical items such as candlesticks and candle followers, communion ware, chapel equipment, and stained glass.

Candlesticks and Candle Followers

Remove wax from candlesticks and candle followers with tissue paper or soft paper products while the wax is still warm. To remove hard, dried wax, run hot water over the item to melt the wax, then wipe the item with a paper towel or soft cloth. Do not attempt to scrape the wax, or remove it with steel wool as this will scratch the finish.

To remove wax from wood, gently rub the area with a plastic scratch pad until the wax is removed. Again, take care not to rub hard since softwoods scar easily and the finish may be damaged. You may also use the warm iron method (except on laminates), but you must exercise care since light woods will show burns easily.

Communion Ware

Requirements concerning disposal or storage of excess communion elements and cleaning communion ware vary according to each faith group's requirements or chaplain's preference. Consult with your chaplain regarding requirements for handling communion ware and communion elements. Since traditions and church laws vary among faith groups, write down specific instructions for handling, caring, cleaning, and disposal of communion ware and communion elements for each faith group you support. You must understand the faith group's or chaplain's requirements in this regard and you must follow their instructions carefully.

THE INDIVIDUAL CUP SET- There are several different kinds of cups used with the individual cup set. They come in disposable, glass, or hard plastic form. No matter what type you use, you should account for them. Accounting for them will help you make certain none will be left in the RMF after a service.

Many RMFs use inexpensive disposable cups. This makes cleaning up an easy task. The used cups are simply collected, washed thoroughly, and thrown away. Glass and hard plastic cups are also used. Since these are costly, you need to take additional care. Take the trays to the sink and wash them as soon as possible so that the wine or juice used in the service does not dry in the cups. Prepare warm soapy water for cups and trays. Remove the cups from the trays, then wash and rinse both the cups and the trays. You must use care with glass cups so that they will not chip or break. A plastic dish pan in the sink or a rubber mat in the bottom of the sink will help keep the glasses from breaking. Do not place too many glass cups in the sink at once. You may dry the cups with a clean towel or simply permit the cups to drain dry. Towel dry the trays to prevent water spotting. A device is available that fastens on top of the tray and holds all the glasses in the tray while you wash and rinse a whole tray at once.

CAUTION

Never attempt to wash any kind of individual communion cup in an electric dishwasher as this may result in broken or melted cups in the bottom of the dishwasher.

SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNION ELEMENTS.- Orthodox, some Protestant faith groups, and Roman Catholics believe that the communion elements, bread and wine, become the actual body and blood of Jesus when consecrated during a Eucharistic service. Therefore, you should consider the bread and wine to be very sacred items. Know your chaplain's requirements for handling any consecrated element, as well as the vessels that contain them, especially those that are kept following the liturgy, mass, or service.

As an RP, you will not normally be concerned with the disposal of consecrated elements following the liturgy, mass, or service. In most instances, the chaplain or clergy will arrange for the disposal of these items. A Protestant chaplain, in some instances, may ask you to dispose of or store excess consecrated communion elements. Adhere strictly to the chaplain's instructions. In some instances, wine or grape juice must be poured on the ground, into the sea, or into a special sink, or sacrarium, in the sacristy. In some instances, excess communion wafers may be placed in the sacristy in a safe place designated by the chaplain.

Wooden Chapel Equipment

Polish wood items such as tables, altar railings, altars, pulpits, and pews using only a good quality furniture polish and a clean cloth. Wash wood surfaces that have come in contact with wine or grape juice as soon as possible. If the spill is dry, you may need to use a damp cloth and a commercial wood surface cleaner before you polish.

Stained-Glass Windows

Decorative stained-glass windows are very expensive and often irreplaceable. If cleaning is needed, wash and immediately dry them with extreme care. Old stained-glass windows are usually assembled with lead strips between each section. If too much pressure is applied, they can easily be pushed out. On a commercial window, you should use a cleaning solution or ammonia and water. Be aware that some of the newer stained-glass windows are not manufactured in the old manner. The newer stained-glass windows are manufactured from surface-treated regular glass instead of true stained glass. In the case of a newer stained-glass window, you could remove the color if you use an abrasive or a stiff brush, or even some types of cleaning solvents.

Metal Appointments

In your duties and responsibilities for maintaining ecclesiastical gear, you will be responsible for the care and maintenance of metal appointments. You must use specific procedures for each type of metal.

BRASS APPOINTMENTS.- If the brass appointments have a lacquer finish, do not use an abrasive cleaner since this will damage the lacquer finish. Clean brass appointments with warm, soapy water to remove stains, and dry with a clean cloth. Then polish them with a nonabrasive polish. If you notice that the lacquer finish on a brass item has been removed because the item was polished with a harsh polishing compound, clean the item with an abrasive cleaner then polish it with a soft cloth to restore a high shine.

GOLD, GOLD-PLATED, SILVER, OR SILVER-PLATED APPOINTMENTS.- Use only an approved gold or silver polish made specifically for these metals. Never use harsh polishes or steel wool. Abrasives will remove the metal and scar the finish, which may necessitate the replating of the appointment.

CHROME AND CHROME-PLATED APPOINTMENTS.- Use only a soft cloth and rub briskly, then shine with a soft dry cloth to prevent body oil from soiling the finish. The use of a polishing compound is not recommended.

After cleaning and polishing metal altar appointments, you should handle them with gloves or a piece of cloth to prevent body oil from soiling the finish. Before storing altar appointments, you should wrap them in a soft cloth.