Dust and Housekeeping

Dust and Housekeeping[edit | edit source]

Contributors: Katherine Miromonti

Housekeeping and the mitigation of dust are crucial for maintaining the structural and aesthetic integrity of artworks, objects, and historic houses. While dust on historic objects and in historic homes is acceptable to a certain degree, it poses potential dangers to objects and surfaces. Some of the effects of dust include [1]:

Abrasion from large or sharp particles
Chemical damage from organic or acidic particles
Damage from trapped moisture or mold growth
Unsightliness or obscuration of aesthetic or design properties

The removal of dust can contribute to further damage of an object or surface and the cost of cleaning is extremely high; therefore, most conservators advocate for measures to prevent dust from accumulating [2]. In order to do this, practical and comprehensive standards for housekeeping and cleanliness must be established.

Generally, there are two types of cleaning: less-skilled and specialized. Less-skilled cleaning may be done by maintenance staff and/or untrained volunteers [3]. This type of work includes [4,5]:

Daily vacuuming of floors, mats, and druggets
Regular dusting of furniture with cotton dusters or other appropriate materials
Periodic cleaning of windowsills, filtration systems, and other areas where dirt enters a building

Specialized cleaning should always be done by a trained conservator. Conservators should handle fragile or deteriorating items on display and clean them with specialized tools. These items should be cleaned only when necessary, as frequent cleaning of fragile objects can cause further damage. The cleaning of fragile items should be done with clean hands and gloves [6].

In general, dust can be removed from items with a cloth, soft-bristled brush, or vacuum. Untreated soft cotton or synthetic microfiber cloths are recommended for cleaning. Soft, natural-hair brushes should be used for cleaning and will often be used in conjunction with a vacuum. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums are preferable for most situations because they prevent small particles from escaping through the exhaust. Vacuums with adjustable suctions and detachable nozzles of various sizes are good for working on a variety of objects and surfaces [7].

Dust atlases (e.g. The Identification of Dust in Historic Houses) and dust monitoring kits are also useful tools for conservators. These resources are used to determine the frequency and effectiveness of cleaning methods [8].

Aside from cleaning, other practices that institutions can use to mitigate the accumulation of dust include [9, 10, 11]:

Placing industrial mats or druggets at museum and historic house entrances
Installing effective dust filtration systems and ensuring they are regularly cleaned (e.g. HVAC)
Placing sensitive objects in air-tight cases, behind glass or acrylic barriers, and as far away from visitor pathways as possible
Consider laying inert and discreet protective barriers to limit settlement of new dusts after a cleaning campaign [12]
Establishing regular cleaning schedules to track what is cleaned and the date. It should include a list of acceptable cleaning supplies and suitable equipment
Utilizing timed tickets to stagger visitor activity in rooms or exhibits
Utilizing coat checks to limit the amount of outside debris brought into exhibits
Encouraging visitor support for preventative care and protection of art and historic objects

References[edit | edit source]

[1] Levitan, Alan. 2002. “Dusting Wood Objects.” Conserve O Gram, 7/5: 1-4. https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/07-05.pdf

[2] Lloyd, Helen, Peter Brimblecombe, Katy Lithgow. 2007. “Economics of Dust.” Studies in Conservation, 52(2): 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1179/sic.2007.52.2.135

[3] Lloyd, Helen, Peter Brimblecombe, Katy Lithgow. 2007. “Economics of Dust.” Studies in Conservation, 52(2): 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1179/sic.2007.52.2.135

[4] Poling, Lesley, Jessica Mayercin. 2014. “Historic Housekeeping.” Ohio History Connection. https://www.ohiolha.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Historic_Housekeeping.pdf

[5] Lloyd, Helen, Peter Brimblecombe, Katy Lithgow. 2007. “Economics of Dust.” Studies in Conservation, 52(2): 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1179/sic.2007.52.2.135

[6] Lloyd, Helen, Peter Brimblecombe, Katy Lithgow. 2007. “Economics of Dust.” Studies in Conservation, 52(2): 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1179/sic.2007.52.2.135

[7] Poling, Lesley, Jessica Mayercin. 2014. “Historic Housekeeping.” Ohio History Connection. https://www.ohiolha.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Historic_Housekeeping.pdf

[8] Lloyd, Helen, C.M. Grossi, Peter Brimblecombe. 2011. “Low-technology dust monitoring for historic collections.” Journal of the Institute of Conservation 34(1): 104-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19455224.2011.566131.

[9] Lithgow, Katy, Helen Lloyd, Peter Brimblecombe, Y. H. Yoon, and David Thickett. 2005. “Managing Dust in Historic Houses: A Visitor/Conservator Interface.” ICOM Committee for Conservation preprints. 14th Triennial Meeting, The Hague 2: 662-669.

[10] Levitan, Alan. 2002. “Dusting Wood Objects.” Conserve O Gram, 7/5: 1-4. https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/07-05.pdf

[11] Lloyd, Helen, Peter Brimblecombe, Katy Lithgow. 2007. “Economics of Dust.” Studies in Conservation, 52(2): 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1179/sic.2007.52.2.135

[12] Lloyd, Helen, Caroline Bendix, Peter Brimblecombe, and David Thickett. 2007. “Dust in Historic Libraries.” In Museum Microclimates: Contributions to the Conference in Copenhagen 19-23 November 2007, edited by Tim Padfield and Karen Borchersen, 135–44. The National Museum of Denmark. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/siteassets/home/learn/conservation/collections-advice--guidance/musmicdustpaper.pdf.

Dust and Housekeeping

Dust and Housekeeping[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Further Reading and Resources[edit | edit source]