Windex and similar cleaners have ammonia in them which can soften lead
around stained glass, so I don't allow them to be used in the museum.
Instead we use a mixture of 1/2 rubbing alcohol to 1/2 distilled water.
It doesn't streak, removes finger prints, and can be used safely on
stained glass.

Becky Fitzgerald


-----Original Message-----
From: Marielle Fortier [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 8:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Cleaning supplies


Tracie,  Currently our museum is in the basement of our campus chapel.
It is 
one big open room with a hallway leading to two bathrooms. The museum
had 
not been cleaned (except my me) for the last year I have been here. The
air 
quality is very poor (musty basement smell). Most of the exhibits have
not 
been touched in 30 years and most on display are from either our early
years 
in the early 1800's or consist of metal (swords, sabers, guns) I do have
a few storage rooms but am currently conducting an inventory using 
half of the museum space. So collections are out and I was worried about
the 
dust the power scrubber kicks up. (Facilities told me it can get quite 
dusty.) As I don't want a years worth of my cleaning to be ruined I made
my 
comment. As for  floor cleaners I was under the impression that chemical

residues can land on collecions. For instance I wouldn't want the
cleaners 
to spray windex on our old cases where gaps could let the windex into
the 
case.

So am I way off in not wanting the areas cleaned by commercial cleaning 
supplies?
The new museum is a "green" museum and I want to recommend the right
kind of 
cleaners to keep the collections safe.


I am enjoying both sides of this discussion. What does everyone else use
for 
their own collections? Is this even talked about in your institution?

**********************
Marielle Fortier
Museum Registrar
Vermont
**********************



**********************
Marielle Fortier
Museum Registrar
Vermont
**********************





>From: Tracie Evans <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Cleaning supplies
>Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 12:24:23 -0500
>
>Marielle-
>I'm curious about something that you said since you didn't tell us what
>kind
>of museum environment you are working in.  Why are you preventing them
>cleaning the museum floors with a heavy duty floor cleaner and a buffer
>machine?  How does is endanger your collection?
>
>Also, why are you concerned about the cleaning of bathrooms and other 
>non-collections areas? How do feel those chemicals will affect your 
>collections?
>
>As for offices, personally, even if I am working on something in my 
>office, at night it is still secured either in temporary holding or 
>collections storage so that facilities can clean the offices and for 
>security reasons. As for collections storage, there should be no 
>discussion or persuasion, you need to clean storage and exhibits.  Not 
>just for proper cleaning around collections but also for security 
>reasons.
>
>Looking forward to hearing more on this topic.
>Sincerely,
>Tracie Evans
>Collections Manager
>Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
>PO Box 2570, Waco TX 76702
>254/750-8631
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>From: 	Marielle Fortier [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent:	Thursday, September 22, 2005 11:11 AM
>To:	[log in to unmask]
>Subject:	Cleaning supplies
>
>Hello Fellow Museum-L members,
>I have been lucky so far in keeping Pest control from spraying bug 
>killer
>in
>
>our former director's office where collections are stored.  I have also
>kept
>
>the facilities department at bay from cleaning our museum's floor with 
>a heavy duty floor cleaner and a buffer machine.  Their question to me 
>for our
>
>current museum and for our new building that is currently being built, 
>what type of cleaner should be used near collections? Cleaners for the 
>floor, windows, bathroom, offices, and any other space that facilities 
>might be cleaning?  (I am trying to convince them that I will clean our

>storage rooms.)Am I being super sensitive or am I doing the right 
>thing?
>
>So the question is what type of cleaners do other museums use to clean
>their
>
>buildings?
>
>Thank you for your answers.
>
>Marielle
>
>**********************
>Marielle Fortier
>Museum Registrar
>Norwich University Museum
>Northfield, Vermont 05663
>**********************
>
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