Surface cleaning refers to the removal of dirt, dust, varnish and other debris from the surface of an object. By cleaning, colors may become more vibrant, details may become more clearer and previously unseen aspects of an object may become more visible.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
skinning, accretions, dust, surface dirt
Synonyms in English[edit | edit source]
wash, swab
Translation[edit | edit source]
| English | surface cleaning |
| French | nettoyage de la surface |
| Spanish | limpieza de superficies |
| Portuguese | limpeza da superfície |
| Italian | pulizia delle superfici |
| German | Oberflächenreinigung |
| Russian | очистки поверхности |
| Arabic | تنظيف السطح |
Discussion[edit | edit source]
The manner of cleaning is dependent on the type of object to be cleaned. A cleaning test may be used to determine the best method to clean an object or painting. Cleaning should be undertaken with an an understanding that removing all debris is not always warranted. The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection suggests that vacuuming, using low suction, is a safe way to clean textiles Landrey 2000. It is particularly important that an object is not excessively cleaned. This is called skinned when too much cleaning has resulted in the loss of paint or damage to the material.
References[edit | edit source]
Landrey, Gregory, Kate Duffy, Janice Carlson, Lois Olcott Price, Bruno P. Pouliot, Margaret A. Little, Linda Eaton, Debra Hess Norriss, John Krill, Betty Fiske, Mark F. Bockrath, Michael S. Podmaniczky, and Mary C. Peterson. 2000. The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collections. University Press of New England. ISBN 9780912724522.
The Fine Arts Conservatory. "Skinned". Last modified 2006. from http://www.art-conservation.org/Glos_paint/skinned/gloss_det_paint.htm
The Fine Arts Conservatory. "Cleaning Test". Last modified 2006. from http://www.art-conservation.org/Glos_paint/Cleaning_test/gloss_det_paint.htm
Northeast Document Conservation Center. "7.2 Surface Cleaning of Paper". Retrieved from: http://nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/7.-conservation-procedures/7.2-surface-cleaning-of-paper
