Good evening, fellow MuseumLers – Yes, the uniforms should be cleaned as feasible before they are stored. At the very least, they should be vacuumed using a handheld HEPA filter vacuum cleaner thoroughly and carefully. The National Park Service has a ConserveOGram that addresses the possibility of drycleaning museum textiles available online: Drycleaning Museum Textiles HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/16-02.pdf"http ://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/16-02.pdf Plus there are ConserveOGrams for making padded hangers (#4/5) and for making dust covers (#4/15). Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator – Private Practice Professional Associate, AIC [log in to unmask] _____ …5 dress uniforms from the five branches of the military off display, and are going to store them in the permanent collection. They have been on display on mannequins for at least 5 years, and are very dusty and dirty. They've been touched and handled quite a bit by visitors. They are all modern--acquired from military suppliers or veterans in the last 10 years. My question is this: how should I clean them before storing them? Someone suggested getting them drycleaned and starched(which is how they would be cleaned if they were in regular use by an officer) but aren't the solvents very damaging? Should I just launder them myself with orvus? Any other options?... ========================================================= 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). No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.10/943 - Release Date: 8/8/2007 5:38 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.10/943 - Release Date: 8/8/2007 5:38 PM ========================================================= 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).