Dirt
This article originally appeared in Exchange,
a newsletter published by the Wisconsin Historical
Society. (Volume
23, Number 6, November/December 1981) It is the first
in a series of articles titled Conservation Corner.
The series features information about maintaining
an adequate environment for the storage and exhibition
of historical collections, employing proper collection
care techniques, and recording and cataloging historical
collections. This article was written by Tom McKay,
retired local history coordinator for the Wisconsin
Historical Society.
Although conservation techniques for museum collections become more sophisticated and complex every day, conservation still begins with providing a proper environment. It is always better to prevent damage to an object rather than treat damage after it occurs. Temperature and humidity are frequently identified as the most important factors in a museum environment. Yet, while their importance cannot be overstated, an even more important factor is cleanliness. More museum objects suffer serious damage from dirt than from any other environmental factor.
Dirt and dust particles are abrasive and can damage every type of
object in museum collections. Dirt particles are particularly damaging
to wood, fabric and paper. They act as a vehicle to carry other contaminants
such as acids and oils. They also work their way into porous surfaces
such as fabrics and paper or become embedded in soft surfaces such
as paint and varnish. Unfortunately, the process of cleaning an object
once it is soiled always causes some damage. The first line of defense
against dirt is to remove as much as possible from the museum environment.
Most of the dirt in a museum environment enters as airborne particles or is carried in on people and objects. Cleanliness therefore begins outside the
museum. A well-maintained and swept walk will markedly reduce the
amount of mud and dirt visitors carry in the door on their feet. At
the door there should be a rubber-backed rug or mat that is cleaned
frequently. If your museum is not air conditioned, all open windows
need screens. Screens cut out a surprising amount of airborne dirt
and are a barrier to insects that carry dirt and leave tiny droppings
that are highly acidic.
To maintain a proper environment, museums have to remove the dirt
they can't keep out. This means house cleaning on a regular schedule.
A good rule of thumb is, if you can see the dirt, you waited too long
to clean. Set a regular cleaning schedule and stick to it. Another
good rule is to put your broom on the porch and leave it there. Brooms
put about as much dirt into the air as they do into a dustpan. Dirt
on the floor is bad, but it is even worse spread in the air to land
on museum objects. Clean floors, corners and window sills with a vacuum.
If something is too big to pick up with a vacuum, it is large enough
to pick up with your hands.
The floor coverings in many house museums are historic carpets. These should be cleaned using a canister-style vacuum with a wand or attachment that can be adjusted to reduce suction if necessary. An additional safeguard for areas of fragile historic carpet is to vacuum them through a piece of fiberglass screen (available at most hardware stores). This same procedure can be followed to vacuum upholstered furniture.
If housekeepers and museum objects could talk to each other, they would probably come to the same conclusion: dusting is a necessary evil. Dusting always pushes around abrasive dirt. Dust lightly with a soft cotton cloth sprayed sparingly with a dust-attracting product such as Endust. However, remember that such products can leave a residue. Use sparingly, and never spray them directly onto an object. Since dirty dust cloths can do as much harm as good, have plenty of dust cloths on hand and launder them when they get dirty. Finally, be cautious with all objects to avoid pulling of loose veneer, paint, or gilding.
Storage and work areas are the most common weak spots in a museum's efforts to maintain cleanliness. A museum should have a separate room in which to do carpentry and other dirty work. Even in this area, no project or work day is complete until the area is cleaned up. When exhibit work or renovation is done in a display room, remove all objects. A polyethylene sheet at the door will be an additional barrier to the movement of dirt out of the area. A storage area should have proper shelving and organization with open aisles to facilitate cleaning. Again, polyethylene sheets can be hung on open shelving to provide a dust barrier.
Every barrier to the movement of dust is the museum's ally. During the closed season, small objects can be placed in cases, drawers, or storage shelves. Discarded white cotton sheets are good dust barriers for large objects, but remember to wash these dust-catching sheets regularly. During the heating season, furnace filters must also be changed on a regular basis.
While dirt causes more damage to collections in small museums than any other environmental factor, it is the cheapest to combat. The chief requirements are hard work and regular procedures. Keep a list of these procedures and be dedicated to seeing that they are performed as scheduled. Cleanliness is one of the least glamorous parts of museum work but also one of the best measures of how much museums care about preserving history for the future.
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