Cherished family heirlooms throughout fire-ravaged areas of Southern California are covered with soot and ash. Even in less severely affected areas, dust from the fires may cover belongings. Removing soot and dust requires prompt and gentle attention in order to avoid further damage.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force, an initiative of Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers the following tips for cleaning up. These guidelines are based on the experience of respected conservation professionals who care for our nation’s treasures in museums and libraries.

The dust from debris and ash is granular and may scratch delicate surfaces if you try to wipe it away with a rag. The most important thing to remember is no dust cloth! A vacuum cleaner on the lowest setting is safer and much more effective. An alternative is a soft, gentle brush.

These general guidelines are important in salvaging valuables following any disaster:

• Safety first! Avoid skin or lung irritation. Wear plastic or rubber gloves, a surgical mask, and goggles during cleanup.
• Get started promptly. The longer ash sits on a surface the more damage it does.
• Clean gently. Loosen debris on fragile objects gently. Avoid rubbing, which can scratch surfaces and grind in dirt.
• Call in a pro. If a valuable heirloom is badly damaged, a professional conservator may be able to help.

Here is how to rescue a variety of items found in many homes and prevent damage from ash and soot:

• Photographs, Papers: Place on a clean blotter. Brush lightly with a clean, dry, soft brush from the center of the photo or paper outward toward the edges.
• Books, Upholstery, Baskets, Delicate Fabrics and Teddy Bears: Vacuum on low suction, with the nozzle covered by cheesecloth and secured with a rubber band. This prevents tearing or pulling away loose bits of paper or fabric. Vacuum fabrics by gently patting the surface as if you were blotting it.
• Furniture: Vacuum with a brush attachment. Don’t use polishes or oils.
• Ceramics, Silver, Stone: For purely decorative objects, dust carefully with a brush with soft bristles, or use a gentle vacuum with a brush attachment. Handle one object at a time with clean, dry hands. If the piece is used for serving food, wash it with mild detergent and dry thoroughly.
• Clocks: Most antique clocks should be cleaned on the outside only by gentle dusting with a clean brush. Take your heirloom timepiece to a trained professional for cleaning if it is covered with dust and soot.
• Dolls: Try first to remove the dirt with a soft, dry brush. If necessary, you can use a cotton swab lightly dampened with water on ceramic or plastic dolls, and then pat dry. Do not use solvents.

Supplies. You may have many of these items around the house. Hardware and art supply stores should carry almost everything else.

• A canister vacuum cleaner with nozzle attachments or a hand-held vac. Just remember that the exhaust port will blow out the dust. A vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter is the best choice.
• Clean blotter paper, cheesecloth and rubber bands.
• A selection of artists’ brushes – with soft, light-colored bristles – in different sizes. Ideally the brushes should have no metal parts, which can snag, but you can cover any metal parts with cloth adhesive tape. Clean and thoroughly dry the brushes as they become soiled.

Soot sponges are an especially useful tool if you are dealing with greasy soot rather than dry ash. They can be obtained through cleaning supply firms and archival product companies. A soot sponge is never used with liquid. Follow instructions – dab, don’t rub.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a partnership of 34 government agencies and national service organizations. It was formed in 1995 to help libraries and archives, museums, historical societies, and historic sites better protect their cultural and historic resources from damage. The Task Force provides expert information on response and salvage to cultural institutions and the public.

These guidelines are based on the text of Caring for Your Family Treasures (Abrams, New York, 2000), a book produced by the national nonprofit, Heritage Preservation, with the advice of top conservators. The guidelines are general in nature. Internet links to additional information on disaster recovery, water damage, and professional conservation advice are available through the Heritage Preservation Web site.

Always consult a professional conservator for treatment of your most valuable objects. The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works has a free referral service (202-452-9545) or http://aic.stanford.edu , and the Regional Alliance for Preservation (800-843-8482) or www.rap-arcc.org has information on preservation services.

These recommendations are intended as guidance only. Neither the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, nor its sponsors Heritage Preservation and FEMA, assumes responsibility or liability for treatment of damaged objects.