NI Science Festival

How clean was 'Clean': The Sudsy Science of Soaps and Stain Removal and the Hygienic History of Laundry and Washing

 In partnership with NI Science Festival.

Don't get in a lather!

Don’t get in a lather! What is soap? How is it made? How does it work? Why don’t we use laundry pods in the bath? Why do we want whiter whites, and how did people get them?

Fear not, for our team of experimental historians will be on hand to answer these questions and more as they delve deep into the science and history of soaps, stain removal, laundry and washing.

''Out damn spot!''

As well as spotless hands, people through history have needed the means and methods for cleaning clothes and table linens, not just their bodies and hair. How did they deal with sweaty stains and dinnertime spills before the introduction of the automatic washing machine? Our Historic Kitchens Team will tell all.

It’s not all soap and scrubbing when it comes to cleaning though, and our experimental team will be investigating how effective historic stain removal recipes were at removing all manner of stains and soiling.

How clean is 'clean'?

In a world before germ theory and antibacterial sprays, what does it mean to be ‘clean’? Watch our historians compare historic soaps to modern bars, pods, and powders and see if any have any real dirt-busting power!

Date: Saturday 20 February and Sunday 21 February 2027

Time: 11:00 - 15:00

Duration: Four hours (drop-in workshop)

Price: Free as part of general gardens admission (you must purchase a gardens ticket)

Capacity: 20 in a room at a time, but drop in free flow for duration.

Ages: Suitable for families with children aged 12+

A beginner’s guide to the science of compost

 Tickets available soon

For beginner gardeners who want to know the science behind composting and keeping your soil healthy, what is the pH, looking after structure of the soil and soil organisms, find out more about the science of compost.

Hillsborough Castle’s gardeners will show you how they use compost in the garden and how to make compost, including how to get the carbon and Nitrogen ratio just right. Learn what can be composted and how to tell when it is ready to use. As well as a guided walk through the Walled Garden, you will visit behind the scenes areas such as the compost yard and the gardeners operating base.

This is an outdoor event so please come dressed appropriately. In the event of wet weather, we will relocate to a polytunnel. Be prepared to get your hands dirty and stuck into soil and compost.

Date: Saturday 13 February (10:15) and Saturday 20 February (10:15) 2027

Times: 10:15

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: Adult £21.50 / Concession £17.50 (price includes admission to Hillsborough Castle's gardens). Members £10.50.

Capacity: 20

Age: 12+

Behind the scenes conservation tour of Hillsborough Castle

Discover how we conserve and preserve furniture, paintings, silverware and clocks for display in the State Rooms of Hillsborough Castle. Led by Castle and Collections Manager David Orr, you will see the techniques used to care for our collections.

Visit behind the scenes rooms not on the regular tours and meet one of our highly skilled specialists.

Dates & times: Wednesday 17 February 2027 (13:30) and Thursday 18 February 2027 (13:30)

Duration: 90 minutes

Price: Adult £21.50 / Child £11.00 / Concession £17.50 (price includes admission to Hillsborough Castle's gardens). Members go free.

Capacity: 20 persons per session

Age: 10+