SPECIALIST cleaners have entered Blenheim Palace in their droves to ensure every nook and cranny of the historic estate is spotless.
The palace's annual deep clean has begun, with teams of up to ten people working every day over six weeks.
Among the items being cleaned are 10,000 books, 40 busts and sculptures and 38 pieces of armour, while the real characters behind Oscar-tipped film 'The Favourite' have been reunited.
Paintings of Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill, the first duchess of Marlborough who helped build the palace, have been brought into the Great Hall.
The film depicts the pair's rocky relationship and has already won a Golden Globe for Olivia Colman, who plays the Queen.
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Staff use several tools in the clean, from museum vacuum cleaners to natural bristle brushes such as hogs’ hair or pony hair.
Polishes are kept to a minimum and no aerosol sprays are allowed. Stubborn dirt is removed by distilled water.
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