museum housekeeping · housekeeping is essential to your preventive conservation program....
TRANSCRIPT
Housekeeping is essential to your
preventive conservation program.
Preventive conservation, the primary goal
of housekeeping, aims to prevent damage
to museum collections.
From the moment an object is
created, it begins to deteriorate as a
result of its interaction with the
environment.
Conservation treatment can be minimized by
implementing a museum housekeeping program in
all spaces that house museum objects, such as:
• exhibit spaces
• historic furnished rooms
• storage spaces
• curatorial offices
• other work spaces
Not all spaces are created equal
Exhibit spaces with closed cases may require only
annual dusting of objects.
Historic furnished rooms, with objects on display in
the open air, will require daily or biweekly cleaning.
Unnecessary and frequent cleaning can cause
damage to objects
To decide on how often to clean, think critically.
Take into account how dirt, pests and other
contaminants get into a space.
Think about how many people go through an area.
Walk through and carefully look at the space to see
where dirt collects and how quickly
Cleaning Schedule
Organize tasks on the schedule as follows:
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Semi-annually
Cyclically (less or more often than annually)
As Needed
Cleaning Schedule
•Use a chart to format your schedule
Provide a space for initials to document each time a
task on the schedule is carried out
Include with the schedule a list of supplies required
for each task
Note all artefacts that require special attention
File completed charts for future reference
Cleaning Schedule
A sample cleaning schedule on the next slide shows
options for daily cleaning that can be performed by
museum staff
Daily routines are staggered (see * in each box)
As tasks are completed, staff initials are entered into
the corresponding box
Schedules should be saved and filed in chronological
order for future reference
Sample Cleaning Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Mop front
Entrance
* * * * * *
Sweep
Floors-All
* * * * * *
Clean glass
display cases
* *
Vacuum Floor
Mats
*
Dust
Artefacts-
South Wall
*
Dust
artefacts-
North Wall
*
Dust
Artefacts-
East Wall
*
Dust
Artefacts-
West Wall
*
Inspect
Pest Traps
*
Why Clean?
Dust is everywhere. If ignored, it will aesthetically
disfigure and may even physically damage objects
Dust is not a single material. It is composed of fine
particles of loose surface soil (sand and organic
debris), sawdust, pollen, combustion by products,
textile fibres, hairs, flakes of dead skin, dust mites,
insect bodies, and food particles.
It varies seasonally and even daily from place-to-
place.
Artefact Cleaning/ Dusting Supplies
Microfiber cloth
Natural bristle brushes
Vacuum Cleaner
Fibreglass screening
Orvus Paste
Dusting:
Always dust from the top to the bottom of an object to prevent dust from falling on clean surfaces. Take utmost care in dusting, remove rings, watches, and bracelets that may inadvertently cause surface scratches.
If you have to touch the object, wear clean white cotton gloves to keep surfaces free of skin acids and oils.
Good lighting is essential to see conditions and work progress.
Dusting: Vacuum
Use a vacuum cleaner so that dust can be collected
and taken away from the building for disposal
A good vacuum cleaner collects dust efficiently and
effectively and is equipped with a filtration system
that prevents collected dust from blowing back out
into the air.
Dusting: Vacuum
The vacuum cleaner should be outfitted with a clean brush attachment and a plastic nozzle, gauze or fibreglass screening should be attached over the end of the nozzle (use a tight fitting rubber band to attach)
By adding this “screen” to the vacuum, any loose pieces or decorations that might otherwise be sucked up into the vacuum collect on the surface of the screen and can be then be saved to be reviewed by the Curator.
Step 1
Wrap a section of screen around
the nozzle of the vacuum
Step 2
Using an elastic band or twill tape,
secure the screen to the nozzle
Finished Product
A vacuum nozzle covered with fibre glass
screening- the screen will catch and save
loose pieces that normally would be sucked
up into the vacuum
Dusting: Brushes
Depending upon the size of the object, many
different brushes can be used in conjunction with a
vacuum cleaner for dusting.
All bushes should be clean, and be made of
natural bristles . The softness or stiffness of a brush
needed will depend upon the fragility of the
artefact, decorations and extent of the dust.
Dusting: Brushes
To avoid scratching a surface with the ferrule (the
metal piece that holds the hairs to the handle),
cover the base (where the metal meets the hairs)
with fabric tape
New, clean shaving brushes and artist brushes in
various sizes work well as dusting brushes
Brushes should be routinely cleaned with a mild
soap (Orvus Paste) and allowed to dry fully before
use
Dusting: Vacuum and Brush
A Vacuum cleaner (with nozzle covered with gauze
or fibreglass screening) can be used to suck up dust
that has been loosened with a hand-held brush.
Hold the vacuum cleaner nozzle about one inch from
the surface and use the brush to sweep the dust into
the suction of the nozzle.
Dust Cloths
Dust cloths are useful, especially on large, flat,
stable surfaces
Use dust cloths of plain soft cotton, or microfiber
cloths
Use a clean cloth to lightly pass over an object’s
surface, turning and folding the cloth
Dirty cloths will not be as efficient as clean cloths
and old dust may contain gritty materials that can
scratch artefacts
Dust Cloths
Launder cloths by hand with the mild soap (Orvus
paste) and rinse well
Do not use electric washing machines or dryers as
previous soap residue could penetrate the cloth
Do not use commercial aerosol dusting sprays, these
sprays often contain oils that can darken or stain
and will leave surfaces with an electrostatic charge
that will, in fact, attract dust