Limitations

Mechanical surface cleaning is effective for removingloose dust and surface dirt, but it will not get rid ofstains or soils that are bound to the fibres with fats, oils,or grease. Removal of these stains requires washing ordry cleaning — both of which are major interventionsthat should be carried out only in consultation with aprofessional textile conservator and following approvedconservation methods (see CCI Notes 13/7WashingNon-coloured Textiles and 13/13 Commercial Dry Cleaningof Museum Textiles). The size of the soil particles is alsoa factor in determining the effectiveness of mechanicalsurface cleaning. Extremely small, finely dividedparticles are more difficult to remove than largerones; some are so small that they cannot be removed.

What to Surface Clean

Before cleaning a textile, it is essential to determinethe nature of the soil and if it is important to the artifact.For example, battlefield mud on a military uniform mayprovide documentary evidence about how the textilewas used, and should be retained. In contrast, dustthat has accumulated due to poor storage conditionshas no significance and should be removed. Whenin doubt, seek curatorial advice.

The textile’s condition must also be assessed. Textilesin good condition are unlikely to be damaged byoccasional mechanical surface cleaning with a protectivescreen and low suction. However, textiles that areextremely fragile and fragmented or have powderingfibres should not be cleaned. Similarly, textiles withnumerous broken threads and loose decorativeelements such as beads, sequins, or feathers are notgood candidates for mechanical surface cleaning. Inthese cases, consult a professional textile conservator.

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Mechanical Surface Cleaning of Textiles

Introduction

This Note describes methods and considerationsfor mechanical surface cleaning of museum textilesin routine situations. Mechanical surface cleaningrefers to the removal of loosely bound particulatesoils by mechanical means, such as brushing orvacuuming. Although these techniques are routinelycarried out in the home, they must be modified formuseum textiles. For example, in a domestic situationthe goal is to remove as much dirt as quickly aspossible. However, in a museum setting the goalis to remove only the dirt that is disfiguring andpotentially damaging the textile, without causingfurther damage.

N.B. The issues involved in removingsoot and mould are beyond the scope of theNote, and are not dealt with here. For moreinformation, see CCI Notes 13/15MouldGrowth on Textiles and Technical Bulletin 26Mould Prevention and Collection Recovery:Guidelines for Heritage Collections.

Why Surface Clean?

Textiles tend to trap dust and dirt due to their textureand porous nature. If left in place, this dust and dirtis disfiguring and can give the impression that thecollection is not being cared for properly. Dust anddirt can also damage textiles physically or chemically.For example, gritty particles (especially crystallinematerials) have sharp edges that abrade and cut fibreswhen the textile is moved or manipulated. Dust andother solid particles attract and absorb materials fromthe atmosphere (acidic or alkaline agents as well asoxidizing or reducing agents) that, with moisture,can initiate harmful chemical reactions.

CCI Notes 13/16

2 CCI Notes 13/16

When to Surface Clean

Mechanical surface cleaning may be required inthe following situations:• before a newly acquired artifact is integrated intothe collection

• in preparation for exhibition or loan• upon returning an exhibited artifact to storage• as part of a treatment for insect pests (see CCI Notes3/3 Controlling Insect Pests with Low Temperature)

Mechanical surface cleaning is also the first stepwhen washing a textile (see CCI Notes 13/7WashingNon-coloured Textiles).

The need for (and frequency of) mechanical surfacecleaning is influenced by the nature and condition ofthe textile as well as the storage and display conditions.For example, a robust carpet displayed on the floor ofa historic house museum may require, and be able towithstand, more frequent mechanical surface cleaningthan a delicate textile displayed vertically in adisplay case.

Mechanical surface cleaning should not be carried outroutinely unless justified, and should not be relied uponto correct problems caused by inappropriate display,storage, or housekeeping. Proper procedures, includingprotection from dust, can significantly reduce the needfor mechanical surface cleaning (see CCI Notes 13/2Flat Storage for Textiles, 13/3 Rolled Storage for Textiles,and 13/5 Hanging Storage for Costumes).

Finally, when making the decision to surface clean atextile, the potential damage due to the dust and dirtthat are present must always be balanced against thedamage that could be caused by the cleaning procedure.

Equipment

Vacuum cleanerHigh-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuumcleaners,1 which are available from some conservationsupply firms, safety supply houses, and departmentstores, are the preferred choice for cleaning museumtextiles. If a HEPA vacuum cleaner is not available,an ordinary domestic canister vacuum cleaner can beused with the exhaust directed to an outside windowor a fume hood. Upright vacuum cleaners and powerheads with beater bars are never appropriate.

Regardless of the type of vacuum cleaner used, reducethe suction power when cleaning museum textiles.Some vacuum cleaners have a speed control accessoryfor this purpose. Alternatively, an inexpensive speedcontroller can be purchased from a power tool supplier.Air-bleed mechanisms in the handle can also be used.Suction can be further reduced by drilling holes in

the plastic tube or wand, and leaving some or allof these holes open.

If the vacuum cleaner is used for multiple purposes,keep a set of attachments (labelled “clean”) for useon textiles only. Brush attachments with soft naturalbristles are the preferred choice. To prevent anythingfrom being accidentally sucked into the machine, inserta piece of screening or a sheer open fabric betweenthe end of the vacuum hose and the attachment (seeFigure 1). Mini attachments may also be useful, andcan be used with full-size vacuum cleaners in thesame way as regular attachments (see Figure 2).All attachments should be washed regularly.

ScreenUse plastic screening (nylon or polyethylene, 18–20mesh) and cut it to a size appropriate to the item beingcleaned. It is best to have a couple of sizes of screen, forexample 30 cm (approximately 1 ft.) square for smallertextiles and up to 60 cm (approximately 2 ft.) squarefor larger textiles such as carpets and rugs. Sew cottontape over the cut edges to prevent them from snaggingthe textile (see Figure 3); this can be done by hand ormachine. All screens should be washed and thoroughlydried before use and regularly thereafter.

Method

Examine the textile carefully, as described previously.If there are loose elements that would not be adequatelyprotected by the screen, do not vacuum the textile or (atthe very least) do not vacuum that portion of the textile.

Figure 1. A protective screen over the vacuum cleaner hose.

CCI Notes 13/16 3

Having determined that it is safe to proceed,place the textile on a clean flat surface covered withacid-free tissue or prewashed cotton sheeting. Laythe screen over one area and adjust the suction of thevacuum cleaner so that the dirt particles are removedwithout lifting the textile itself. Gently vacuumfollowing the direction of the warp or weft, or thepile if one is present. Do not press the vacuum nozzledown — suction removes the dirt, not pressure. Whenthe area has been cleaned, lift up the screen and place

it over the next area. Work methodically to clean theentire surface. When finished, turn the textile overand repeat the process on the reverse side. Whenturning the textile, make sure that the support surfaceis still clean. If it is not, vacuum or replace it beforecleaning the second side.

For three-dimensional textile artifacts, such as hatsand shoes, use a clean soft-bristled brush to push dirttoward a vacuum nozzle covered with a sheer fabric.Suitable brushes are available at artist suppliers andcosmetic counters. All brushes should be washed anddried before use and regularly thereafter. Some artifactsare too fragile or delicate for this method. If any part ofthe artifact becomes dislodged, stop immediately andconsult a textile conservator.

In some cases, it may be more efficient to remove lintand other particles by picking them up with tweezers.When carefully done, this is less harmful than repeatedapplications of suction.

For flat textiles with thick pile or rows of knots,vacuuming may be more effective if the artifacts areplaced over a narrow roll or tube. This provides accessto deeper areas of the pile, where dirt may be lodged.Be sure to cover fringes with a screen.

Bibliography

Guild, S., and M. MacDonald.Mould Prevention andCollection Recovery: Guidelines for Heritage Collections.Technical Bulletin, No. 26. Ottawa: CanadianConservation Institute, 2004.

Mailand, H.F., and D.S. Alig. Preserving Textiles:A Guide for the Nonspecialist. Indianapolis:Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1999.

Robinson, J., and T. Pardoe. An Illustrated Guideto the Care of Costume and Textile Collections.London: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998.

Endnote

1. All vacuum cleaners blow out or exhaust the airthey suck in. What is contained in the exhaustedair is determined by the filtering capabilities of themachine. Ordinary vacuum cleaners filter only thelarger particles and blow the smaller ones backinto the room. In contrast, a vacuum cleaner witha HEPA filter can remove 99.97% of particles downto 0.3 µm in size.

Figure 2. Mini cleaning tools for the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3. Cotton tape sewn around plastic screen.

4 CCI Notes 13/16

by the staff of the CCI Textile Lab

Également publié en français.Also available in French.

©Minister of Public Works and GovernmentServices Canada, 2010Cat. No. NM-95-57/13-16-2010EISSN 0714-6221