Angela,
Thank you very much for all of your advice.  That is the same process I 
learned at the Fairbanks Museum (Not in Alaska-but equally fun- check out 
fairbanksmuseum.org ) The one difference is the length of time. It was 2 
weeks in the deep freeze, thawed, cleaned and back in for 2 more weeks.  I 
am the the second person to clean and now inventory and number the 
collection. The textiles were vacuumed with a Nilfisk HEPA through filters 
(which were saved). Currently we are vacuuming everything again. On almost 
all of the textiles I've found dermestid casings and have even found live 
little buggers. Two days ago walking by an exhibit (with yellow wool 
backing) I found a live dermestid happily munching away. (yes I killed him) 
We do not currently have an IPM document, but I am begining the cleaning 
cycle.  Currently we do not have a freezer but we will within the next year. 
  You mentioned Ben and Jerry's, they are actually very close by. My 
question would be how to wrap the items and not take up too much of their 
space? Also you mentioned cleaning the surface area of exhibits, floors, etc 
with a bleach solution. That doesn't cause other issues with bleach and off 
gasing and other chemical issues?  I actually have a case "Quarentined" due 
to finding live dermestids on cleaned textiles inside a cleaned case,that 
had been painted.
Oh one more thing what are Nitrile gloves?

Thank you.

Marielle


**********************
Marielle Fortier
Registrar
Norwich University Museum
Northfield, Vermont 05663
**********************




>From: Angela Linn <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Freezing treatment
>Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 09:34:44 -0800
>
>MIchelle,
>Our standard operating procedure on all infestations (and is our IPM  
>policy for all new collections)  is to bag the object in question,  place 
>inside a box, and then put into our ultra-cold freezer that  takes the 
>piece down to -40 almost immediately. The objects are left  in for 48 
>hours, then brought slowly back to room temperature by  bringing them into 
>our lab in their bag with a small hole punched in  it to release the 
>condensation. The temp in our lab is about 65  degrees year round, so it 
>takes most of the day for the piece to warm  up.
>
>If we find live specimens, we will leave things in for longer than 48  hrs 
>occasionally (mostly because we'll forget to take them out) - up  to a 
>week. Depending on the creature, we'll cycle them. In for 48  hrs., out for 
>24 - 48, then back in for another 48, just to make sure  we've taken care 
>of all phases of life (adult, larvae, and eggs).  Then we clean the buggers 
>up using a good artifact vacuum with a HEPA  filter and nitrile gloves. 
>Clothes moths are a good candidate for  cycling up here because if they 
>come in from outside, our winter  temps always get to at least -40 in the 
>winter and so bugs in the  Fairbanks area are a bit heartier than other 
>parts of the world.  We're extra cautious for this reason. I would guess 
>Vermont can get  pretty chilly also. If you're looking for large spaces, 
>you might  check with a local meat locker. I don't know how cold those  
>refrigerated trucks can get - maybe a freezer truck (how far is Ben &  
>Jerry's from you? :) )
>
>You might find objects that are too large to go into the freezer.  Past 
>posts on this list have talked about bagging and placing oxygen  scrubbers 
>inside to suffocate them. This is also good policy for  composite artifacts 
>that may have materials that are inappropriate  for freezing due to the 
>structure of that material - ivory doesn't do  well when it gets zapped to 
>-40 that quickly. For cases when you only  suspect infestation or 
>contamination, we bag and monitor for 45 days  (the live cycle of the 
>dermestid) and if we see no evidence in the  bag after that amount of time, 
>we generally can accept that the piece  is "clean" and is safe to bring 
>back into the collection. If we know  there are live specimens on board, 
>we'll either take the chance with  freezing or we'll look into oxygen 
>scrubbers.
>
>After dealing with two fairly extensive infestations, we've also  
>implemented a good cleaning regiment of the actual drawer/exhibit  case 
>where the infestation was found. Wipe down all the surfaces with  a bleach 
>solution (about 10%) to kill any eggs that might be  lingering on the 
>surface or cracks, that aren't visible to the naked  eye.
>
>Good luck! It's a gross battle to wage, but it's got to be done!
>Angela Linn
>
>On May 12, 2005, at 5:05 AM, Marielle Fortier wrote:
>
>>Good morning!
>>
>>I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on freezing treatments  for 
>>dermestids. The objects themselves are not the issue today, but  what 
>>length of time to freeze.  When I was an intern at a museum we  froze 
>>infested items after a good vacuuming, wrapped in acid free  tissue, 
>>bagged and sealed, we would freeze the items for a two week  period. 
>>Remove and gradually thaw to room temp then clean again,  bag and seal for 
>>one more two week period. I've caught wind of the  new idea that 48 hours 
>>in -20 F would be all that was needed. For  me the jury is still out on 
>>such a short treatment.  Also are there  better options than freezing? We 
>>have also thought of oxygen  deprivation chambers. I welcome everyone's 
>>opinion.
>>
>>To give some history my infestation is of dermestids (pesky brats  that 
>>I've been lucky enough to find live and dead!) They are  everywhere but we 
>>are mostly concerned with our vast uniform  collection. What also would be 
>>the most convenient way in time and  money to treat over 200 items.
>>We will be moving to a new building in about a year and I don't  want the 
>>infestation to follow. But I also don't want the next 5  years of my job 
>>to be spent freezing, thawing and cleaning this  enormous collection. We 
>>have thought of renting a refrigerated  truck, has anyone tried this 
>>method?
>>
>>Thank you all for advice in advance. I really enjoy the discussions  on 
>>this board.
>>
>>>From the Dermestid Queen of the east coast!!!!
>>>
>>
>>Marielle
>>
>>**********************
>>Marielle Fortier
>>Registrar
>>Norwich University Museum
>>Northfield, Vermont 05663
>>**********************
>>
>>_________________________________________________________________
>>
>
>Angela J. Linn
>Collections Manager, Ethnology & History
>University of Alaska Museum of the North
>907 Yukon Drive
>P.O. Box 756960
>Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960
>TEL: (907) 474-1828
>FAX: (907) 474-5469
>www.uaf.edu/museum
>
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