Pollen, mildew, and dust bunnies, oh my! If you look after a collection, then you've had to deal with these contaminants but may have been afraid to talk about them. Well, no more sweeping it under the rug! This session focuses on a key method for preventive conservation: cleaning and housekeeping. Presenters approach this topic from three diverse perspectives: cleaning storage spaces, cleaning objects, and creating maintenance plans for historic homes or house collections. #nutsandbolts

1. Collections Access:
New Spaces & Approaches

2. May 2016 the NEW SFMOMA opens

3. During 3-year closure SFMOMA’s Collections Center
is purchased and begins to take shape

4. During 3-year closure SFMOMA’s Collections Center
is purchased and begins to take shape

5. More than off-site storage
A second campus
CC Photo Studio

6. More than off-site storage
• Conservation Studio
• Photography Studio
• Woodshop
• Museum Archives
• Overflow, non-
climate storage for
the Library, OPS, and
the Museum Store
A second campus
CC Photo Studio

7. More than off-site storage
A place for research and teaching
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Spring 2016

8. More than off-site storage
• SPACES
• Mockup Gallery
• White Box
• PROGRAMS
• Artist Initiative
• Higher Education
programing
A place for research and teaching
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Spring 2016

9. San Francisco Art Institute Class, Spring 2016
Mockup Gallery
A full scale, 1300 sq/ft mockup of the new downtown galleries

10. White Box
Classroom/meeting space (dedicated media coming soon)
California College of Art Class, Spring 2016

11. Artist Initiative
Mellon-funded collaborative collections research project

12. Artist Initiative
• 5-years
• $1.75M collections research
grant funded by the Mellon
Foundation
• Booster shot to CC to keep
balance between research,
access, and storage
Mellon-funded collaborative collections research project

13. Higher Education Programming
• TOUR: Meet staff
from 5 different
departments
• OBJECT STUDY
SESSIONS:
Access objects not
currently on display
sfmoma.org/educators/higher-education/higher-education-offerings-collections-center

14. GOOD collections access =
GOOD collections management

15. Research + Teaching spaces at downtown campus
Access policies/procedures to come! Spaces just completed.
Conservation Workroom
Collections Study Room
Library

16. Challenges and Successes

17. Challenges and Successes
• Challenges
• Concurrent activities:
Collection moves
• Overexposure

18. Challenges and Successes
• Challenges
• Concurrent activities:
Collection moves
• Overexposure
• Successes
• Scheduling & capacity
• Donors, staff, faculty
& students are excited

19. Rachael Faust
rfaust@sfmoma.org

20. Photo by Grace Reamer
Cleaning
Dedicated
Storage
Spaces

23. Agents of Deterioration
Contaminants
(pollutants, inherent vice)
Pests
Incorrect RH
Incorrect
Temperature
Light
Physical Forces
(mishandling, shock, vibration, impact)
Water
Theft
Fire
Curatorial Neglect

33. Cleaning Schedule
Daily
• Empty all trash containers
• Sweep or dry mop
• Refresh sticky mats
• Vacuum carpeting in
hallways
Weekly
• Dry mop
• Wet clean office floor
Quarterly
• IPM, Climate Data
• Wet Clean Storage
Floors
• Window Sills
Yearly
• Summaries of IPM
and Climate Data
• Special Projects

39. Ken Middlebrook
Curator of Collections
History San José

40. The ideal historical structure environment…
Visitors sanitized for artifact protection

41. The ideal historical structure environment…
Artifacts sealed from visitors

42. Our Reality – Visitor Experience

43. Historic Site Preservation
Building Maintenance
Sound Security Practices
Monitoring HVAC Environment
Disaster Preparedness
Integrated Pest Management
Collections Management
Objective – Visitor Experience

44. Historic Site Preservation
Building Maintenance
Sound Security Practices
Monitoring HVAC environment
Disaster Preparedness
Integrated Pest Management
Collections Management
Housekeeping
Objective – Visitor Experience

45. Housecleaning
It is Not!

46. Defined Housekeeping Responsibilities
• Administration
• Collections
• Curatorial
• Exhibitions
• Education
• Docents
• Events Coordinator
• Facilities
• Janitorial

47. Communication

48. Our Museum’s Largest Artifacts

49. Peralta Adobe
1791
Fallon House
1853
Individual Structure Requirements

51. Spiders, Termites and Rodents…OH My!

52. Carpet Fraying
Water Intrusion
Loose Boards
Proactive Maintenance
Dust Mites

53. Keys to Successful Housekeeping
• Common Sense

54. Keys to Successful Housekeeping
• Common Sense
• Careful Observation

55. Keys to Successful Housekeeping
• Common Sense
• Careful Observation
• Consistency

56. Keys to successful housekeeping
• Common Sense
• Careful Observation
• Consistency
Thank you

57. Object Cleaning
Robyn Haynie, Conservator

58. What is Conservation?
Always consult a
conservator if you are
unsure whether or not
an object should be
cleaned
Mitigation of change over time
Preventive Remedial
To find a
conservator in
your area go to:
http://www.conserv
ation-
us.org/membershi
p/find-a-
conservator

59. ‘Museum Dirt’ vs. ‘Historic Dirt’
Dust build-up on framed works in
storage at the UMFA Pillow from Abraham Lincoln’s
deathbed (photo courtesy of the Library of
Congress)

60. What can dirt tell us?
• Vulnerable objects
• Effectiveness of gallery
maintenance/HVAC
• Pests
• Object history
Food residue inside
ancient Egyptian
bowl Photo courtesy of
Alison Whyte, Oriental
Institute, University of
Chicago
Frass shapes
Illustration from Pinniger, D. (2001) Pest
Mamgement in Museums, Archives and
Historic Houses. London: Archetype.

61. Before you clean
• Examine
• Document
• Assess
• Prepare

62. Cleaning Methods: Dry
• Do not involve chemicals or solvents of any
kind
• Will typically address minor dust build-up

63. Dry Cleaning Continued

64. • Involve chemicals or solvents
• Should not be used unless
advised by a conservator
Cleaning Methods: Wet

65. How often should I clean?
• Depends on your object and
environment
• Check objects regularly
• Don’t forget about uncovered objects in
storage

66. How do I know when to stop?
• Careful observation
• Don’t force it

67. Products to Avoid
• Silver polishes
• Windex
• Commercial detergents and leather
dressings
• Compressed air
Clean your cleaning
Supplies!
 Don’t forget!
 Make it a
habit