Marielle, Please take caution when using toxic chemicals (many bug killer sprays are, and they often have an oily base) around collections and surfaces where collections are handled, etc. Also remember that fumes can circulate through ventilation ducts -which you seem to be aware of and have concerns about. When you see insect activity - it is best to identify the species you are dealing with, and find a non-toxic solution to eradicate/control the problem. If you can't identify the insect - bag it or place it in a container for identification (if you have someone who could research this and/or an etymologist to consult with). There are poison baits and traps that are less harmful., etc., to nearby collections. For small mammals - I use traps for mice, and for chipmunks...a method I refer to as 'assisted suicide'. We're not supposed to use decon -because the animal can die virtually anywhere and is left to decompose there. I also shy away from it because were the poisoned animal to become prey to a fox or cat, etc., that animal may become poisoned too. But I take a bucket of water and lean a slim slab of wood against the bucket with -usually peanutbutter on the top. They walk up to the top for the bait and flip over into the bucket of water and drown. So there are methods such as these that can be used to eradicate/control pests. For cleaning solutions - non-toxic cleaners are best and, again, try to stay away from sprays/propellants. In the museum where I work...well my supervisor buys our cleaning supplies from the dollar store! But, for specific object cleaning (non-invasive) I look for cleaning supplies in supply catalogs, such as Gaylord and even then, I research them the best I can. Even though the museum I work in is 'rustic', I still try to use proper methods for cleaning, etc. Your #1 cleaning tool - especially for the new facility, will be a good vacuum w/a HEPA filter. Vacuuming will greatly reduce your need to use cleaning solutions. And, I don't know how often you wash/bluff the floors or what kind of flooring is in the new facility - of course never use a broom or anything that may propel dust/dirt in the air. But mopping also moves quite a bit of dirt around. You're better off to vacuum often and 'spot clean' the floor. If you are concerned about ammonia-based cleaners - like for the bathroom and offices...a squirt bottle with vinegar and water should be ok. Windows - you can even vacuum or dust with an anti-static dust cloth...there are some that are great and commonly sold - like the 'Cape Cod' brand - no need to polish furniture either...everything sticks to that cloth and they are washable/reusable. All I can think of off the top of my head. And of course you are not being supersensitive. Cleaning is an important component of collections care management. Sometimes people ignore this - just because they don't want to be the ones having to clean! But if this is your responsibility (or one that you have taken on - as often can be the case) then you are right to research and to advocate for the proper methods, etc. I know it can start to feel like you're just being OCD, so all I can say about that is to try not to think in terms about being 'sensitive', but rather in terms of collections care management. I have had people get upset with me when I ask them to not throw/leave food wrappers around - or opened soda cans...I have found M&M's on the floor in a collections storage room in another museum I worked at. It is important to make people aware that this is a collection's management care policy -and that you're not just nagging. After all it is people and their habits that cause much of what we end up having to clean and why we deal with pest control. Pam In a message dated 9/22/2005 12:13:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: 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 Pamela Silvestri, Museum Assistant Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum Shenipsit State Forest 166 Chestnut Hill Road Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076 (860) 684-3430 ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).