Hi Pam, Thank you for your response. The insect issue wasn't that bad. The people called to get into the office, I said no and that was that. I never thought of the duct work...but not having A/C in the building might help. We live in VT so not many buildings have A/C that is good for only 3 months out of the year! (we might have a frost here tonight!) As for the cleaners. Vinegar is good? What type of ratio to water do you use? Marielle ********************** Marielle Fortier Museum Registrar Vermont ********************** >From: Pamela Silvestri <[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 21:20:16 EDT > > > >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/ . 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