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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2007
CONTACT:
Lawrence Reger or Mary Rogers, 202-233-0800 or TaskForce@heritagepreservation.org
SAVE FAMILY TREASURES FROM SOOT
Conservation experts say prompt, gentle attention is best
Cherished family heirlooms throughout fire-ravaged areas of Southern California are covered with soot and ash. Removing soot and ash requires prompt and gentle attention 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. The advice is based on the experience of respected conservation professionals who care for our nation’s treasures in museums and libraries.
- Safety first! Avoid skin or lung irritation. Wear plastic or rubber gloves, an N95 mask, and goggles during cleanup.
- Get started promptly. The longer soot or ash sits on a surface, the more damage it does.
- Handle objects as little as possible. If you must move them, use a tray or hanger, and grasp them in places that are normally hidden from view.
- If soot and ash are wet – say, from fire hose water or a burst pipe – don’t do anything to remove them; attempting to remove them from wet surfaces will cause further damage. Get advice from a professional.
- Likewise, do not rinse sooty or ash-covered treasures.
- Resist the urge to wipe soot and ash-covered surfaces with a clean cloth; wiping will embed the soot and ash in the object and make it much more difficult to recover.
- Instead, remove soot and ash with a vacuum on the lowest setting. Do not let the nozzle touch the object and do not use a brush attachment; let the wand float over the surface.
- When cleaning textiles, do not unfold them – this will only disperse the soot.
- After vacuuming, you may need to clean the object with a soot sponge, which can be purchased at major hardware stores. Unlike other sponges, use this one dry. Lay the sponge on the surface, press gently, and lift without rubbing. Cut off sections as they become dirty.
- Call in a pro. If a valuable family treasure is badly damaged, a professional conservator may be able to help. 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.preservecollections.org) has information on preservation services.
These general guidelines are adapted from the Field Guide to Emergency Response produced by the national nonprofit Heritage Preservation.
A six-minute Field Guide to Emergency Response video clip on salvaging objects and family treasures from soot and ash damage and additional information is available at www.heritagepreservation.org.
The Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a partnership of 41 national service organizations and government agencies. 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.
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Interview information
- Julie Page, coordinator of the California Preservation Program, 760-224-0419.
- Janet Ruggles, Executive Director, Balboa Art Conservation Center, San Diego, 619-236-9702.
- Beverly Perkins, Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation, 951-696-0262.