Connecting to Collections Care

Hi all,

I'm a new member here and I'm coming to you today about my museum's new storage room. We're building a new museum (previous building was destroyed by fire) and will be moving the collection into our new storage rooms very soon. The concrete floor has recently been polished, painting has finished, and mobile shelving has just been installed. Before we move the objects into the space, it needs to be cleaned. If anyone has advice for me on the best way to clean, what to use or not to use, dos and don'ts, please send them my way! 

As a sidenote, we know that it's not best practice to move a collection in so soon after painting and concrete polishing but we don't have a choice. The building where the collection is currently stored is being auctioned off soon and they want us out. (Also, the power & water has been shut off in the current storage building for a few months). Ah, the joys of small museum disaster recovery!

Thanks in advance!

------------------------------
Taryn Foss
Assistant Director-Curator
Winnipeg River Heritage Museum
St. Georges MB
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Also note that the building water system hasn't been hooked up yet. Any water we use will have to brought in from offsite.

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Taryn Foss
Assistant Director-Curator
Winnipeg River Heritage Museum
St. Georges MB
------------------------------

Definitely wipe down all of your surfaces (walls; floors; all sides of your storage shelves/drawers/cabinets). I recommend the use of the dry unscented dusting cloths like Pledge GrabIts or Swiffers. I am always amazed/dismayed on how much dust/debris accumulates on those surfaces. And don't forget the insides of those storage units! You don't want that dust/debris transferring to your artifacts as you move them in.
Regards,
Meg

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Margaret Geiss-Mooney
Costume/Textile Conservator in Private Practice
Petaluma CA
(707) 763-8694
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2019 12:06
From: Taryn Foss
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Also note that the building water system hasn't been hooked up yet. Any water we use will have to brought in from offsite.

------------------------------
Taryn Foss
Assistant Director-Curator
Winnipeg River Heritage Museum
St. Georges MB
------------------------------

Hello, 

I am the current C2CC monitor and would be happy to add a few more suggestions to the recommendations Margaret Geiss-Mooney made.

I suggest having a HEPA vacuum present. Having a brush available so you can sweep out the tracks for the movable shelving would also be beneficial. I would avoid using chemical cleaners or sprayers. If there are objects in storage, I would also suggest avoiding using water, especially in large amounts, as it can affect the relative humidity. However, with the storage being empty, that would be a little less of a concern if the amount of dirt and dust present is heavy enough to require more than just a dry cloth. I would still suggest trying to keep the moisture at a minimum even without items in storage. I would also recommend a dry microfiber cloth and lent-free cloths for dusting. I would suggest making sure you have enough dusting cloths so that you are not using a dirty cloth, spreading the dirt around instead of picking it up.

The National Park Service also has a good reference on Museum Collection Storage that maybe useful for you now and in the future. 

All the best,

------------------------------
Diane E. Knauf
Assistant Conservator
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
------------------------------

Hi Diane:

I noticed that the National Park Service reference is Chapter 7. What is the whole reference called and is the whole thing available online?
Thanks, Martha

------------------------------
Martha Singer
Chief Conservator
Material Whisperer
West Orange NJ
(973) 325-0088
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2019 20:06
From: Diane Knauf
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hello,

I am the current C2CC monitor and would be happy to add a few more suggestions to the recommendations Margaret Geiss-Mooney made.

I suggest having a HEPA vacuum present. Having a brush available so you can sweep out the tracks for the movable shelving would also be beneficial. I would avoid using chemical cleaners or sprayers. If there are objects in storage, I would also suggest avoiding using water, especially in large amounts, as it can affect the relative humidity. However, with the storage being empty, that would be a little less of a concern if the amount of dirt and dust present is heavy enough to require more than just a dry cloth. I would still suggest trying to keep the moisture at a minimum even without items in storage. I would also recommend a dry microfiber cloth and lent-free cloths for dusting. I would suggest making sure you have enough dusting cloths so that you are not using a dirty cloth, spreading the dirt around instead of picking it up.

The National Park Service also has a good reference on Museum Collection Storage that maybe useful for you now and in the future.

All the best,

------------------------------
Diane E. Knauf
Assistant Conservator
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
------------------------------

THe NPS Museum Handbook Chapter 7 (MUSEUM COLLECTION STORAGE) citation is: https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHI/CHAP7.pdf

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M. Susan Barger Fellow
Connecting to Collections Care Community Coordinator
Santa Fe NM
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2019 07:27
From: Martha Singer
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hi Diane:

I noticed that the National Park Service reference is Chapter 7. What is the whole reference called and is the whole thing available online?
Thanks, Martha

------------------------------
Martha Singer
Chief Conservator
Material Whisperer
West Orange NJ
(973) 325-0088
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2019 20:06
From: Diane Knauf
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hello,

I am the current C2CC monitor and would be happy to add a few more suggestions to the recommendations Margaret Geiss-Mooney made.

I suggest having a HEPA vacuum present. Having a brush available so you can sweep out the tracks for the movable shelving would also be beneficial. I would avoid using chemical cleaners or sprayers. If there are objects in storage, I would also suggest avoiding using water, especially in large amounts, as it can affect the relative humidity. However, with the storage being empty, that would be a little less of a concern if the amount of dirt and dust present is heavy enough to require more than just a dry cloth. I would still suggest trying to keep the moisture at a minimum even without items in storage. I would also recommend a dry microfiber cloth and lent-free cloths for dusting. I would suggest making sure you have enough dusting cloths so that you are not using a dirty cloth, spreading the dirt around instead of picking it up.

The National Park Service also has a good reference on Museum Collection Storage that maybe useful for you now and in the future.

All the best,

------------------------------
Diane E. Knauf
Assistant Conservator
Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Hi Martha, 

I use the NPS Handbook often, I attached the link to it's entirety.

Hope this helps, 
Meghan 


------------------------------
Meghan Anderson
Curator
Andalusia: The Home of Flannery O'Connor (Georgia College)
Milledgeville GA
(478) 445-8722
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2019 07:27
From: Martha Singer
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hi Diane:

I noticed that the National Park Service reference is Chapter 7. What is the whole reference called and is the whole thing available online?
Thanks, Martha

------------------------------
Martha Singer
Chief Conservator
Material Whisperer
West Orange NJ
(973) 325-0088
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2019 20:06
From: Diane Knauf
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hello,

I am the current C2CC monitor and would be happy to add a few more suggestions to the recommendations Margaret Geiss-Mooney made.

I suggest having a HEPA vacuum present. Having a brush available so you can sweep out the tracks for the movable shelving would also be beneficial. I would avoid using chemical cleaners or sprayers. If there are objects in storage, I would also suggest avoiding using water, especially in large amounts, as it can affect the relative humidity. However, with the storage being empty, that would be a little less of a concern if the amount of dirt and dust present is heavy enough to require more than just a dry cloth. I would still suggest trying to keep the moisture at a minimum even without items in storage. I would also recommend a dry microfiber cloth and lent-free cloths for dusting. I would suggest making sure you have enough dusting cloths so that you are not using a dirty cloth, spreading the dirt around instead of picking it up.

The National Park Service also has a good reference on Museum Collection Storage that maybe useful for you now and in the future.

All the best,

------------------------------
Diane E. Knauf
Assistant Conservator
Amon Carter Museum of American Art

------Original Message------

Hi Diane:

I noticed that the National Park Service reference is Chapter 7. What is the whole reference called and is the whole thing available online?
Thanks, Martha

------------------------------
Martha Singer
Chief Conservator
Material Whisperer
West Orange NJ
(973) 325-0088
------------------------------

The full NPS Museum Handbook is available on the National Park Service Publications page. It is in three parts. Each part can be downloaded or you can download chapter by chapter. Part I covers Museum Collections, Part II covers Museum Records, and Part III covers Museum Collection Use. 

Hope that helps

------------------------------
Diane E. Knauf
Assistant Conservator
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2019 07:27
From: Martha Singer
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hi Diane:

I noticed that the National Park Service reference is Chapter 7. What is the whole reference called and is the whole thing available online?
Thanks, Martha

------------------------------
Martha Singer
Chief Conservator
Material Whisperer
West Orange NJ
(973) 325-0088
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2019 20:06
From: Diane Knauf
Subject: new storage room cleaning tips?

Hello,

I am the current C2CC monitor and would be happy to add a few more suggestions to the recommendations Margaret Geiss-Mooney made.

I suggest having a HEPA vacuum present. Having a brush available so you can sweep out the tracks for the movable shelving would also be beneficial. I would avoid using chemical cleaners or sprayers. If there are objects in storage, I would also suggest avoiding using water, especially in large amounts, as it can affect the relative humidity. However, with the storage being empty, that would be a little less of a concern if the amount of dirt and dust present is heavy enough to require more than just a dry cloth. I would still suggest trying to keep the moisture at a minimum even without items in storage. I would also recommend a dry microfiber cloth and lent-free cloths for dusting. I would suggest making sure you have enough dusting cloths so that you are not using a dirty cloth, spreading the dirt around instead of picking it up.

The National Park Service also has a good reference on Museum Collection Storage that maybe useful for you now and in the future.

All the best,

------------------------------
Diane E. Knauf
Assistant Conservator
Amon Carter Museum of American Art