Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums by Melissa Heaver TABLE OF CONTENTS verything gets dirty! We all know this from personal experience; dust and 3 General Handling dirt seem to accumulate on books and furniture in our homes at a pheno- & Moving E menal rate. Think about how much grime can build up in your own house 5 General Cleaning Tips when you go away for a week. & Supplies 5 Things Not to Do Imagine what happens to a house museum that is open to the public and receives 20,000 visitors each year. Visitors can quickly wear down f loors and car- 6 Sample Cleaning peting, their hands touch furniture, walls and banisters, thus damaging collections Schedule for Historic House Museums and interior finishes. Historic house museums were not designed for the amount of pedestrian traffic that occurs after a building is opened to visitors. 7 Floors 9 Woodwork The typical historic house, whether museum or private residence, is subjected to stresses far beyond those of a modern residence. Historic structures are not 11 Walls & Ceilings sealed like modern buildings. Floor boards are worn and have shifted, doors and 13 Windows windows no longer hang properly in their openings, and modern ventilation sys- 15 Fixtures & Hardware tems often bring in even more dirt and dust. Even the most thorough housekeeping 17 Light Fixtures regime cannot prevent these pollutants from creeping into the house. 19 Hearths & Mantels In addition, historic houses are often furnished with objects that require long- 21 Window Shades term preservation. These heirlooms, whether a marble topped table or a century-old family quilt, are often extremely fragile, and cannot be cared for with modern 23 Books & Bookshelves cleaning methods. The elbow grease and strong chemicals used to maintain most 25 Ceramics modern homes cannot be used to clean historic artifacts. They must be carefully 27 Framed Objects handled and extra precautions should be taken when cleaning them. 29 Furniture This manual is designed to assist those responsible for the care and mainte- 23 Glass nance of an older or historic home, whether private residence or house museum. 35 Metals Individuals who own antiques or family heirlooms will find helpful advice about cleaning methods and supplies. This guide also explains what not to do, and when 39 Carpets not to do anything at all. Suppliers for many of the products mentioned in this 37 Textiles guide are listed in the resource section at the end of the book. 39 Bathrooms & This housekeeping manual is by no means the definitive answer to all ques- Kitchens tions. New techniques and new materials are constantly emerging; keeping abreast APPENDICES of new developments is the best way to augment the information provided here. 43 Sources of Technical Assistance Although many of these guidelines were originally written for the National Trust’s collection of historic house museums, they have been adapted here for 47 Suppliers homeowners and other historic site overseers, as well. More than 6,000 historic 49 Supplies & Where sites in this country are open to the public. Many of them have original or historic to Get Them furnishings, all of which need proper care and cleaning. 51 Useful Publications Rugbeaters and Homemade Soaps: Housekeeping Plans for House Museums Cleaning Methods from the Past Housekeeping must be a primary concern of Luckily, today we don’t have to draw water from a site management. Sound housekeeping practices well and make our own soap to mop f loors and wash are important for the welfare of the artifacts. windows. The wide variety of cleaning products found at the local supermarket and modern conveniences, Furthermore, ongoing maintenance is cheaper such as vacuum cleaners, make housekeeping easier. than undertaking major repairs or restoration Yet many cleaning methods from the past are just as after furniture or interior finishes have been appropriate (and sometimes preferable) today as they damaged from incorrect cleaning methods. were 100 years ago. Carpeting is still beaten to re- It is a good idea to prepare a schedule or plan move ground-in dirt and grime, and silver is often for housekeeping, so that everyone involved in the cleaned using whiting. Beeswax and Carnauba waxes actual care of objects is aware of what needs to be are still found in commercial furniture polish, and cloth done, who is responsible for carrying out specific diapers are still in demand as a polishing cloth. activities, when those projects should be The Importance of Proper Housekeeping completed, and what materials should be used. Although long-term deterioration cannot be halted, The housekeeping plan becomes the institutional maintaining a clean and constant environment can slow memory ensuring consistent, long-term collections the effects of time. Using the wrong cleaning materials preservation. Each staff member should have a can damage historic artifacts, while implementing the copy of the plan and participate in periodic wrong techniques can cause irreversible damage to training on proper housekeeping methods. objects. For example, spray polishes contain silicone Even after completion, the housekeeping plan which permanently adheres to furniture surfaces. Should a piece need to be restored, the furniture con- will continue to evolve; be prepared to review it servator would have a difficult time removing that and revise it periodically. silicone layer. Using scouring pads to clean heavily tar- Sometimes less is more. Restraint is an nished and dirty silver can permanently scratch and essential characteristic of the successful damage the surface of the piece. The only possible way housekeeping plan and its implementation. to remove such damage is to buff it out, which removes Whenever possible integrate housekeeping layers of metal that cannot be replaced. procedures and practices into the visitor experience. Guides who understand proper collections care techniques can make it part of their tours. They are able to explain to the visitor what is going on, thus allowing the housekeeping staff to not have to stop and answer so many questions. Telling the visitor what staff is doing helps to educate them about the importance of housekeeping, and the fact that objects just don’t “keep clean” by themselves.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 2

General Handling & Moving

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We cherish old buildings and arti- be worn at all times when handling facts because of their age. We take metals, porous marble or unglazed pleasure in an old leather family bible ceramics, or when handling any or proudly display a Native American object with a f laking or easily headdress in the town museum. Yet snagged surface. Textiles, books, after 100 years or more, buildings and and paper may be handled with bibles deserve our respect and careful clean gloves or, if necessary, with handling. The following list spells out clean dry hands. in general terms what precautions to • Wear surgical gloves, or “sure-grip” take when moving or handling historic cotton gloves with plastic grip objects. dots, to handle heavy objects with smooth slick surfaces like metal, Handling marble, or polished stone • Always wash your hands sculpture, glass, glazed or highly thoroughly before handling any polished ceramics. object. Wash your hands again • Do not eat, drink, or smoke before handling a different type of near work areas or places object. Be sure they are thoroughly where objects are stored. dry before handling the next Food encourages insects object. and rodents, drinks can • Avoid using hand cream until the easily be spilled and cause end of the day as it will leave a severe damage to most residue on objects. types of objects, and • Remove all jewelry. Metals and smoke/f lame can be hazardous jewels (especially diamonds) can near many cleaning materials. scratch objects easily. Bracelets and watches can bang against Moving items and cause breakage, cracks, • Before moving any object or piece or chips. Avoid wearing watches or of furniture, check your route first. bracelets, long necklaces, Make sure it is free of obstacles and prominent belt buckles, metal you are aware of any irregularities buttons, or any other accessory in the ground. that may scratch or snag when • Always know exactly where an lifting and moving any object, object is to be placed before particularly large objects such as moving it. Be sure there is ample furniture. and appropriate space where you • Because salts and oils from the plan to put the object down. perspiration on your hands can • Before moving an object, prepare promote corrosion on metals, the new location with suitable clean white cotton gloves should

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 3 General Handling & MovingGeneral Cleaning TipsGeneral Cleaning Tips

padding and support, and make • Never handle an artifact more than sure that the transport path is is required. Excessive handling can clear. Transport heavy objects such speed object deterioration. as metal and stone in a padded • Handle only one object or part of cart or dolly. an object at a time. If the object • If the piece is large, schedule at consists of many small pieces, “ It is the duty of those least three people to assist in the wrap them in acid-free tissue and who are placed as move, two or more to carry the place them in a padded basket or caretakers in the large object, and one to oversee box to transport them all together. rooms to see that the clearance through doors, etc. If you Mark the box with identification furniture is used do not feel comfortable moving the information on the pieces carefully, the room object yourself, or if it is too large temporarily wrapped and stored kept clean and decent, or awkward to move alone, seek inside. and to know that good assistance. • If an object is damaged during order is maintained therein; and if the • Before lifting an object, evaluate moving or cleaning, carefully wrap inmates deviate there the areas of strength and potential the pieces in tissue and place in a from it is their duty to weakness in the structure. basket or box. If the object is of kindly admonish them, Examine the object for loose importance because of its history and if they do not elements or evidence of damage or value, seek the assistance of a receive the admoni- such as cracks (especially “blind” professional conservator to repair tion, they should make or incomplete cracks), breaks, it. If pieces are found detached, or the case known to the tears, and insect channeling or exit in the event of accidental breakage Elders, and there leave holes. Also look for signs of old during lifting, moving, or it. ” repairs like glue seams, patches, installation, do not attempt to Millennial Laws, and other reinforcements that repair the damage. Instead, save all United Society of Believers in Christ’s indicate weakened areas. These pieces, no matter how small and Second Appearing (Shakers), 1825 areas will be the weakest part of place them in a ziplock bag, box, or the object, and must be fully other container, depending on the supported when the object is lifted size of the fragments. If the object or moved. is part of a museum collection, • Do not “test” the strength of areas label the container with the that visually appear to be weak by object’s identification number. tapping, probing, f lexing, or any • Use caution when turning an other manipulation that may result object over or unwrapping it. in irreversible damage. Always handle small objects over a • When carrying an object, support padded surface, such as a table, or it fully. Never carry an object by near a f loor that has been padded. handles, rims, edges, etc. Support • Be careful with potentially the object at its center of gravity. dangerous or lethal objects, such • Use both hands when moving any as firearms or medical object. instruments. If in doubt, do not touch them.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 4 General Cleaning Tips

General Cleaning Tips

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ • Establish and work within a safety • Do not use glue, paste, cement, or zone that includes padded tables epoxy on objects. and supplies. Establish wet and • Do not use staples, straight pins, or dry areas. Dry all materials wire to affix numbers or thoroughly before returning them information to objects. to the dry zone. These zones • Do not write directly on an object Supplies Needed: ensure that the object is safe both or specimen with a ballpoint pen, general work tables from contamination once it is crayon, felt marking pen, or grease dust sheets cleaned and contamination from pencil. mattress pads outside sources. tables • Do not use paint or ink on paper chairs • Complete one task before objects or documentary material. beginning another. Segment padded baskets or • Never use pen or other ink markers boxes cleaning into small, doable tasks. around objects. Use only #2 gloves – latex & cotton • Be sure you have, and use, pencil. plastic sheeting appropriate tools for cleaning. Be padded blocks • Do not use inked stamps to imprint sure these tools have been clipboard numbers or information on properly cleaned themselves. If writing paper objects. #2 pencils they are contaminated during the • Never make a mark on the front or plastic bags cleaning process, replace or clean Mylar them. back of an oil painting. • Replace your cleaning tools as they • Never affix an accession number to get dirty. Do not attempt, for a coin. instance, to dust an entire room • Do not affix an accession number with one cloth. to the underside of a heavy object without making sure a temporary Things Not to Do tag is easily accessible for inventory • Do not use pressure-sensitive tape and location purposes. or labels of any kind on antiques • REMEMBER: Never do anything or heirlooms. This includes Scotch to an antique that cannot be tape, magic tape, Dymo labels, undone. adhesive tape, or masking tape. • Do not use gummed labels, gummed tape, or paper on objects.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 5 General Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Schedule for House Museums Daily Schedule • Clean public areas — bathrooms, entranceways, Semiannually ticketing areas. • Vacuum drapes, walls and ceilings. • Sweep porches, exterior stairs, ramps, and • Dust high ledges requiring a ladder to reach the walkways, as necessary. area. • Vacuum high traffic areas, as needed, especially • Dust gilded picture and mirror frames. exterior mats, entry mats, and modern carpeting • Rotate display textiles. Refold or reconfigure used for visitors. folded or hanging textiles, using acid-free tissue • Empty trash cans. as padding, to reduce structural stress. • Check lights and replace bulbs if necessary. • Clean exterior of exhibit cases to remove Annually fingerprints. Use liquid plexi polish on soft cloth • Remove all objects from room. to clean plexiglass. Use diluted solution of water • Roll rug and remove from floor. with a few drops of ammonia and alcohol to • Put large case pieces that are too heavy to move, clean glass. into middle of room. • Remove small objects to prepared work area. Weekly Schedule • Remove framed objects from the wall, always • Dust furniture with soft or magnetic cloth, as using two people. necessary. • Remove window hangings, after taking several • Inspect for objects that have been moved and close-up photos or completing a sketch of each put them in their proper place. panel to aid in rehanging. • Vacuum floors. • Inspect the room envelope. Check for evidence • Dust blinds and windowsills. of insects, f laking plaster on the ceiling or walls, leaks, high humidity, mold, f loor damage, paint Monthly Schedule damage, etc. • Dust interior woodwork such as doors, • Use magnetic cloth on a pole to clean spider doorframes, wainscoting, chair rails, baseboards, webs and loose dirt from ceiling, cornices, and banister posts. Dust mirrors and ungilded carvings, window frames and glass, doorframes mirror frames. and doors, kick plates, and f loor. • Vacuum accessory textiles such as tablecloths, • Wash windows, interior and exterior. dresser scarves, bed linens, and rugs. • Inspect polished brass and silver for tarnishing, • Vacuum fireplace interiors if not in use. and clean and wax or lacquer as needed. • Inspect for insect remains in textiles, on f loor, • Inspect stair-carpet, and arrange for restretching under furniture, and in window frames. if necessary by a professional carpet installer. • Vacuum and dust interiors of case pieces such Quarterly Schedule as bookcases, desks and cabinets. • Vacuum upholstered furniture • Wax clear finished wood furniture if light buffing • Vacuum under beds and moveable furniture. fails to bring up a shine. • Dust book spines and tops of books, drapes, • Clean and wax iron f loor grates, and vacuum cornices, and lighting fixtures. air ducts below the vents. • If books are displayed open, inspect and then • Dust all books and the interior of all bookcases. turn pages. • Check fire extinguishers, smoke and fire Bi-Annually detectors, and test all security systems. • Polish metal objects. • Inventory collections.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 6

Floors

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Unfinished and Painted Floors • Wax all f loors with bowling alley • Vacuum cleaning is the most wax. Use slip-resistant, low gloss efficient way to pick up loose dirt wax for wooden steps. and dust from any type of f loor. • If the f loor has been covered in Use as low suction as possible to polyurethane, follow complete the job. manufacturer’s instructions for • Dust with a mop covered with a cleaning. magnetic wipe cover, rather than a traditional rag dust mop which can snag in architectural elements, and splinters. and can cause further damage or leave behind residue strings. need a photo • Use a well wrung-out sponge mop to clean tracked in mud or other wet dirt. Test the f loor in an inconspicuous place to be sure wet cleaning will not damage or cause the f loor to bloom (turn cloudy or white). • Try to limit damp mopping to a dry day, and provide good Ceramic Tile Floors ventilation to speed drying time. photos of • Dust and damp • Be sure furnishings do not come interesting mop, but don’t in direct contact with the damp tiles — I wax as this can mop or f loor. will siloutte change appearance. • Inspect f loor for insects, rot or Don’t let water sit on loose boards. tile surface since it can • Hire a professional to renew or cause staining or leaching. redo f loor finishes. This process is • Consider having brick pavers highly toxic and f lammable. sealed by a professional. Finished Floors • Cleaning chemicals can etch glaze permanently, so don’t use regular • Damp mop f loor. Test household cleaners. inconspicuous area first to make sure finish doesn’t bloom or isn’t Stone & Terrazzo Floors removed by water. • Dust and mop f loors with mild mixture of soap and water. Make sure f loor is dried thoroughly, as

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 7 Floors

water can cause leaching of salts bleaching or blurring of surfaces. from stone, which can cause more • Stone and terrazzo f loors should problems. be polished every few years by a • Don’t use commercial detergents professional. which can cause permanent Linoleum/Resilient Flooring (asphalt tile, asbestos, vinyl) • Dust and mop with mild mixture of soap and water. • Use plastic scouring pads and a weak ammonia and water solution to clean stains. • Wax asphalt and vinyl f loors. • If asbestos tile shows signs of breaking or disintegrating, contact a professional in asbestos mitigation to deal with situation. This material is hazardous to your health!

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 8

Woodwork

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Unpainted Woodwork is present. Test area with mineral • Vacuum woodwork using a screen- spirits on a swab; if the finish is covered nozzle. Watch out for sticky; it consists of layers of wax. If loose pieces. Bag these, mark the finish presents a hard clean Need a Statement them, and put them aside for later surface, varnish is present. About Woodwork regluing. • Wax unpainted woodwork using After dusting • Wipe gently with a magnetic cloth, paste wax like Butcher’s Bowling furniture, check for wax deposits. Dip a Q- cotton cloth, or brush. For places Alley, which is easy to remove with mineral spirits. Apply a thin layer tip in warm distilled near the ceiling, fashion a dust water and gently apply mop with a magnetic cloth and using circular motions, allow to to a small inconspicu- carefully wipe. dry, and then buff with a clean, ous area where there is • Test for water solubility before any dry cloth. Remember that heat and finish, not bare wood. Allow to dry, and then wet cleaning. humidity will slow drying time. • Wax can cause build-up in which check for bloom or • Do not wet clean gilded surfaces. discoloring. Gold-leaf or gold colored case the woodwork would appear If wood does not architectural elements, such as tacky or smeared. show signs of bloom, moldings or medallions, should be mix distilled water with a teaspoon of gently brushed. Ivory cleaner and apply • Remove fingerprints and scuff gently with soft cotton marks with diluted Murphy’s Oil cloth to areas of wax Soap, Dirtex, or TSP and rinse build-up. Dry immedi- with a rag dipped in clean water. ately. Remember to test an inconspicuous area first. Dry immediately with a dry cloth, as standing water leaves stains. • Be careful of original varnish, painted or shellacked finishes that often dull and darken over time. Have a professional remove the finish. • Modern finishes like polyurethanes, epoxies, and synthetic resins scratch easily and • Waxing only needs to be done are hard to touch up. Use damp a every two years or so, and if it is cloth and wipe with dry one done properly, there will be little immediately. Test area with alcohol build up. on a cotton swab; if the finish • Rebuff the finish periodically. dissolves, shellac or spirit varnish

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 9 Woodwork

Painted Woodwork Heavy Dirt on Woodwork • Vacuum or brush. • To removed handprints and scuff • Clean with a weak solution marks, wash with tepid water and containing a few drops of Ivory either Ivory Soap, Orvus Paste, or soap, Dirtex or TSP in a gallon of Murphy’s Oil Soap in a weak cool water. Remember to spot test solution (e.g., 3 tablespoons soap first and stop if you damage or to one gallon of tepid to warm remove paint. water). • If dirt and grease come off, then • Moisten a clean absorbent cloth in work slowly from ceiling down the soap solution, and gently clean with a sponge and soap solution. the soiled area with moderate Make sure you change the sponge pressure in circular strokes. Do not or rag regularly. Do a small area at scrub or use any elbow grease on a time, and overlap areas to keep painted or varnished surfaces. from getting rings. Wipe the area with a cloth and • If the surface is particularly greasy, clean water, and follow clean with mineral spirits on a immediately with a soft dry cloth. cotton ball. Test the surface in an • Stair banisters are often quite inconspicuous place first to make sticky from accumulated oils and sure the paint or finish is not dirt and should be cleaned with inadvertently removed. Murphy’s Oil Soap, followed by • Don’t touch gilded areas. wiping with a soft cloth and clean water, and finally, with a soft dry Faux-painted Woodwork cloth. If the banisters remain sticky • Use a damp rag to clean. after this treatment, the Remember to test first. accumulated residue should be cleaned by wiping the banisters • If there is evidence of f laking, with mineral spirits and then don’t touch at all. drying with a clean dry soft cloth. • Wax with Butcher’s or Renaissance For weekly maintenance, use a wax to protect. magnetic wipe cloth to dust the • Original 18th and 19th century banister, and clean with water and paints had clear coat of varnish or soap (Ivory, Orvus Paste or shellac over paint. Test in hidden Murphy’s Oil Soap) only as area with cotton swab and water necessary. before cleaning entire surface.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 10

Walls and Ceilings

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Walls • Use rubber or vinyl erasers for • If the wall surface is secure, dust limited cleaning. Don’t use pink from top to bottom with a long- erasers, as they can leave a residue. handled dust mop fitted with a • Consult a conservator before using “ To Clean Papered clean absorbent cotton or magnetic water or other solutions to clean Walls. — The very best cloth cover. Do not use any treated wallpaper. method is to sweep off cloth for dusting walls. lightly all the dust, • Sweep the walls gently from top to Ceilings then rub the paper with stale bread — bottom, changing the cloth when • Clean ceilings as directed for painted wall surfaces. cut the crust off very it becomes dirty. If walls are very thick, and wipe dusty, vacuum with the brush • Flaking and blistering paint often straight down from the f loor attachment to minimize indicates structural or moisture top, then begin at the redistribution of dust throughout problems. Check with a top again, and so on.”

the room. professional to determine the Hale, Sarah Josepha. source of the problem. The Good Housekeeper Wallpaper or, the Way to Live • If the ceiling surface is historic and Well, and to Be Well • Be careful of wallpaper that is While We Live. Boston: appears to be f laking or blistering, Otis, Broaders, & detached or peeling from the wall. do not attempt any cleaning. Check Company, 1841. This may be due to slow drying of with a professional conservator. the plaster wall loosening the wallpaper adhesive, or to high levels of relative humidity that may have weakened the adhesive bond of the wallpaper. Care must be taken to avoid damaging loose wallpaper during dusting. • Do nothing if the paper is historically significant. • If wallpaper isn’t historically significant and is secured to the wall, dust from top to bottom with a dust wipe or magnetic cloth. Remove surface grime with soft brush or vacuum on low suction. • Don’t touch paper with the vacuum head. Use screen . • Don’t use vacuum on delicate or f locked papers.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 11 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 12

Windows

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Glass Panes Windows with Applied • Do not use commercial window Ultraviolet Film cleaners. Commercial compounds • Use only distilled water and a clean often contain silicone or soft cotton cloth to clean any Window Fact or detergents that leave residue films window treated with an applied Statement which are difficult to remove. UV filter film. Dry immediately. After dusting • Never use a spray furniture, check for bottle of window wax deposits. Dip a Q- cleaner. Aerosol tip in warm distilled and hand-pumped water and gently apply sprays are also to a small inconspicu- window photo — can be vertical hard to confine, ous area where there is finish, not bare wood. and may fall on Allow to dry, and then surrounding check for bloom or surfaces that might discoloring. If wood be damaged by does not show signs of moisture or by bloom, mix distilled chemical agents in water with a teaspoon of Ivory cleaner and the window apply gently with soft cleaning solution. cotton cloth to areas of • Dampen a clean white soft cloth in • Do not polish the window and wax build-up. Dry a solution made of equal parts of avoid any excessive rubbing. Follow immediately. distilled water and isopropyl the manufacturer’s suggestions for If the surface is especially grimy, test a alcohol to which a few drops of further cleaning. small area first and household ammonia have been scrub the surface very added. Wipe the windowpane with Windows with Separate gently with 0000 steel moderate pressure in circular Ultraviolet Roller Shades or wool dipped in turpen- movements, and polish the Plexi Sheet Covers tine. This is especially window with a dry soft lint-free • Follow the manufacturer’s good for cleaning the cloth or chamois leather. Do not instructions for cleaning. goo found under brass hardware. allow the cleaning solution to • Do not spray anything directly come in contact with any onto the plexi or glass as it could varnished or painted wood surface, run onto painted surfaces and as the alcohol content in the could harm the plexi. solution may harm these finishes.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 13 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 14

Fixtures & Hardware

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Use a f lannel jeweler’s cloth Beecher, Catharine E. that has one side & Stowe, Harriet Beecher. The American impregnated with jeweler’s rouge, Ceramic and Glass Fixtures Woman’s Home or, 3M’s Tarnishield or NevrDull to Principles of Domestic and Hardware Science. Hartford: clean polish brass. Harriet Beecher Stowe • Use window glass cleaning solution • After cleaning with all materials Center, 1998 (originally (see Windows, on page 13) applied printed 1869). other than the Tarnishield, wax with cotton balls or a cloth diaper. with a thin coat of hard microcrystalline wax such as • Use swabs for cleaning difficult to Renaissance Wax or bowling alley reach areas. wax. • Rinse thoroughly with a water- • Buff well with a soft cloth. dampened cloth.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 15 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 16

Light Fixtures

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• Dust the fixture carefully with a • Vacuum or brush lampshades soft brush. carefully. Many are made of silk, • Remove glass globes from fixture which shatters over time from light and place in a padded dishpan. damage. Clean with window glass cleaner • Make sure power is off before (see Windows, on page 11?) applied doing any work! Check lamp wires with cotton swabs, balls, or a soft and plugs. If an outlet is loose on cotton cloth. the wall, tighten it using a • Do not try to clean metal fixtures screwdriver. without first checking with a • Don’t run wires under rugs where professional conservator. Many people walk. Wires can fragment fixtures are made of different and start a fire. kinds of metals or have been painted to give a faux finish.

Hearths & Mantels

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Wooden Mantels • If marble is highly polished, wipe • Dust all wooden mantels as with dampened cloth when directed for painted, varnished, necessary. and clear-finished wood with • Clean marble with magnetic or soft cloth. Renaissance wax, which • Avoid using a treated cloth on will also serve to painted or lacquered surfaces. protect it. • Interiors of many fireplaces are Brick Hearths and often quite dusty from old soot Surrounds and cluttered with fallen mortar • Remove surface dust with a brush, debris from chimney. Sweep out cloth, or vacuum using the soft with a whiskbroom and dustpan. round brush attachment. Dust interiors of fireplace regularly as part of the ongoing • If brickwork shows signs of spalling maintenance schedule. or f laking, do not do anything further. Consult a professional for advice. Stone and Marble Hearths • Test clean a small area using warm and Mantel Surrounds water and a few drops of soap on a • Remove surface dust with a brush, cloth. Then clean brick carefully and cloth, or vacuum using the soft immediately wipe with clear water round brush attachment. and dry with a cloth.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 17 • Do not allow water solution to sit Fireplace Tiles on brickwork since it is very hard • Wipe with a damp cloth. to dry. • Clean according to Ceramics, but • Apply a light coating of be careful, as tile edges are Renaissance wax or bowling alley unglazed. If moisture seeps in, wax to protect the surface. then it can cause the glazed surface to spall (f lake off) permanently.

Window Shades

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• Remove general dust with a magnetic cloth. • If nonhistoric, take down shades and clean with lukewarm water and then dry immediately. • Do not get tapes on venetian blinds wet, as they may stain.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 18

Books & Bookshelves

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HANDLING TIPS: • For a deeper cleaning, vacuum stable books carefully using a soft Remove a book from a shelf by either pushing the books on either side brush attachment and decreased back and removing the book by suction. holding the covers on either side of • Don’t use cleaners such as saddle the binding, or pull the book from soap or English leather dressings, Supplies Needed: the rear. Never grab a book by the as they can permanently adhere to acid-free tissue top or sides of the spine. These are the leather. brushes very weak places and are likely to mylar tape • Before replacing books, check the break. Open books very carefully. Do acid-free paper for shelf for nails, ridges, or grooves. If not crack the binding. When books markers are open, have padded blocks to put there are ridges in the shelf, line under the covers to take the strain off the shelf with another the binding. Turn the pages using material, upper-right corner. Do not moisten your fingers to turn pages.

• Work from the top shelf down. open book silouette — • Clean the shelf with the appropriate aerial view method (See furniture section). Do not wax surfaces that may come in contact with the books. • Clean books by holding fore edge (long edge), hold firmly closed. With a soft brush, sweep away, down the book, from your body. If such as acid free corrugated there are torn or broken edges, do cardboard to correct the not brush these off. Brush spine inconsistency. and boards very carefully. • If the shelf is sagging, determine if • Remove any material that is in the it can withstand the weight of the books such as pressed f lowers, books you are planning to put on paper clips, or newsprint. If it. If it cannot, do not replace the appropriate, place items in an books. envelope and store in a safe place. • Do not push books all the way to • If the spine or cover is loose or the back of the shelf; they need air detached, tie in place lightly with circulation behind them. cotton twill tape. To protect the • Do not squeeze books onto a shelf. boards, be sure to tie in both Tight storage will crush embossing directions. and scratch leather.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 19 • Do not lean books at an angle; this fit between the objects. The leather will break the spine in the bookbinding will irreparably • If a book is to be displayed on its damage wood finishes. side in direct contact with wood furniture, cut a piece of Mylar to

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 20

Ceramics

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HANDLING TIPS: Porous Ceramics: Unglazed, Low-fired Earthenwares, Soft- Inspect the object before moving it. Be prepared to compensate for any paste “Imitation” Porcelain weaknesses when moving it. Do not • Dust gently with a soft cotton cloth Fact or Statement wear loose clothing that may catch, or a soft brush. About Ceramics knock over, or drag across objects. • Do not immerse in water. Do not Dip a Q-tip in warm Cotton gloves do not provide wet clean under any circumstances. adequate friction for handling distilled water and ceramics. Wear latex (surgical) gently apply to a small Non-Porous Ceramics: inconspicuous area gloves for metallic lusterware, High-fired Pottery or Stonewares, Hard- where there is finish, extensively gilded, or chemically paste “True” Porcelain not bare wood. Allow unstable ceramics. • First dust gently with a soft cotton to dry, and then check Do not pick up any ceramic by for bloom or discolor- cloth or soft brush. handles, knobs, or spouts, even if ing. they are meant for that purpose. • Check with ultraviolet light in a If the surface is Remove all detachable parts, such as light tight room to see if there are especially grimy, test a lids. Use both hands when picking any old repairs that are not visible to small area first and up any item; use one hand to the eye. If there are, do not wet clean. scrub the surface very support the object gently with 0000 steel and the other to wool dipped in turpen- cradle the object. tine. This is especially Never stack plates good for cleaning the goo found under brass more than six hardware. deep without adequate padding; rims can crack and break easily. Always carry individual objects in a padded basket or box. Groups of small objects can be carried together in a padded basket or box. • If dirt and grime remain, the object Remember to keep adequate may be wet cleaned. In a rubber padding between them. dishpan make a weak solution of Ivory/Orvis and lukewarm water. Use only a small amount of soap; do not create so many bubbles that you cannot see the object in the water.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 21 • Wear rubber gloves to improve • Do not clean antique ceramics in grip. the dishwasher. The abrasives in • Immerse and wash carefully with a the dishwasher soap can easily soft cloth, do not scrub. Rinse remove gilt work and can pit or thoroughly in another rubber etch the surface of the china. dishpan of lukewarm water and a drop of ammonia to aid in drying. Dry immediately, with a soft cloth. If there is extensive ornamentation and decoration, use a hair dryer on low cool speed.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 22

Framed Objects

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HANDLING TIPS: • Vacuum the reverse of the frame with a vacuum on low suction. Do Before touching any framed object, examine the object, the frame, and not vacuum if there is noticeable the hanging mechanism carefully. Do f laking or the backing is unstable. not proceed if any of these look Be extremely careful not to nick or fragile. Wear gloves if the frame is touch the back of the frame with Supplies Needed: metal or gilded. Gilt rubs off very the vacuum. framer’s tape screw eyes easily and is highly susceptible to the • Clean the glass as you would a oils and salts on your hands. Handle picture wire mirror, being very careful of the plexiglas cleaner a gilded frame by touching only frame and the object in the frame. glass cleaner ungilded areas. Never touch the Do not allow any moisture to seep picture hooks surface of a painting or other framed below the glass. framing points/gun object. Never carry a painting by its foamcore stretcher, as you can damage the painting with your fingers. Always use two people to move a framed object larger than 24" x 36.” Carry only one framed a piece of lovely art in a object at a time. Always fancy frame, I will silouette use two hands; support the frame. the frame with one hand at the bottom and one hand on one of the sides. When carrying a framed object, the image should face you. Before returning the object to the wall, be sure the Paintings and Needlework hanging mechanism is in good • Before cleaning, determine if the condition. If there is any doubt, do object is stable. Do not attempt to not rehang. clean a painting or a piece of framed needlework that is fragile Frames and Glass or f laking. • If a painting is stable, gently dust • Dust the frame with a soft cloth or the surface with a soft brush. Do brush. Be very careful of whatever not use a dusting cloth, it may is housed in the frame when catch or snag on the surface. dusting the frame. • If a piece of needlework is stable, • Gilded frames should only be vacuum it very gently through a cleaned with a soft brush. screen with a vacuum on low

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 23 Framed Objects

power. Be extremely careful, • Check the security and stability of needlework is often very fragile. the hanging device before any cleaning. Framed Paper Objects • Lightly dust the mirror surface. • If the object is determined to be • If deeper cleaning is necessary, use stable, dust the surface lightly with a small wad of cotton batting a brush. dampened with mineral spirits. Mirrors Buff with clean dry batting. • Dust ornately carved wood or • Avoid touching the frame with gesso frames lightly using a soft cleaning solution. Never use a brush or low power air brush. spray bottle for application of cleaning materials, there is no • Gilded frames should be very lightly dusted; do not allow any moisture to touch the glass or frame.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 24

Furniture

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HANDLING TIPS: In general, you do not need to wear moved separately. When relocating gloves when handling furniture. such furniture, carry each piece Wear gloves when handling metal or separately. Secure all moveable pieces fabric elements on furniture. If there such as doors and drop lids with flat are any loose pieces (finials, cloth twill tape. Avoid rope, twine, Supplies Needed: and all adhesive tapes. detachable cornices, etc.), remove cotton swabs them to a labeled container and keep Remove drawers using a paper tag bowling alley wax them with the object. Remove any to mark exact location. Avoid using microcrystalline wax objects that are displayed or stored on pulls except to start drawers out of dust cloths or in the piece. Avoid their slots. Remove hide glue touching any inlay, the top drawer first. buffing cloths veneer, carving, or Pull the drawer out mineral spirits paint on furniture. straight. Do not force hake (Japanese Never trust sticky drawers. When artists’) brushes handles, even if they need the chair returning drawers, be cotton gloves are installed for photo that was very careful of their moving and lifting. used on the corners. Do not bang Never push or pull flyer into the body of the furniture. Furniture piece. Remove shelves should always be lifted since they can fall out and carried, even and be damaged, fall when relocating the and damage piece only a few something else, and inches. Legs of add a lot of weight. furniture are especially vulnerable to Lift chairs at the seat rails. Do not easy breakage. use the crest rail, arms, or legs as Always pick up furniture at the handles. Remove slipcovers or area of major gravity, for example, cushions before handling or moving under the seat rail rather than by chairs. Do not lean on chairs or place armrests or backs of chairs. Armrests anything on seats or rails. and ornamental backs are usually When moving tables, secure swing applied by joining with adhesives and legs and other moving parts. Remove dowelling and are most likely to have leaves. Lift by the apron or skirt; been previously repaired. Any applied never lift a table by the top. If the and, especially, any repaired area is tabletop is made of marble and is always structurally weakest and most removable, take it off and transport it likely to split, fracture or break when vertically. If carried flat, it may break moved incorrectly. under its own weight. Furniture made of composite Be careful when vacuuming around pieces, such as a breakfront cabinet, objects. Do not allow the vacuum, hose, secretary, or marble topped piece, was cord or metal tubes to touch the object. originally constructed to be lifted and This may cause significant damage.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 25 Furniture

• Clear-finished wood is finished syringe, or even by directed air either in shellac, lacquer, or from a soda fountain straw, and varnish. Provided the finish is not catch displaced dust from the air cracked, lifting, or f laking, these by the vacuum hose nozzle held pieces can be dusted with soft dry near the area being dusted. Cleaning Wax cotton cloth or, when the ambient • When cleaning case pieces, remove Deposits from relative humidity is below 40 drawers and all lining material. Furniture percent, with a humidified cotton Carefully vacuum drawer interiors. • After dusting cloth or a magnetic cloth. Dust the exteriors. Use a vacuum furniture, check for • Commercial products may not be on low suction and a brush for wax deposits. needed if a humidified cotton cloth cleaning deep carving. • Dip a Q-tip in warm or magnetic polyethylene/ distilled water and gently apply to a nylon fiber cloth is used to small inconspicuous break the electrostatic area where there is attachment of dust to finish, not bare surfaces in conditions of low wood. Allow to dry, relative humidity. If used and then check for routinely, commercial bloom or discoloring. products may leave an • If wood does not accumulated residue of show signs of bloom, mix distilled water mineral oil that can become with a teaspoon of sticky and actually attract Ivory cleaner and dust, and requires fairly apply gently with soft aggressive solvent cleaning cotton cloth to areas with mineral spirits to of wax build-up. Dry remove. immediately. • Vacuuming is often the safest • If the surface is especially grimy, test way to dust most furniture, a small area first particularly any object and scrub the vulnerable to abrasion and surface very gently scratching from inadvertent • Remove brass hardware. Record with 0000 steel wool rubbing of sharp dust and dirt the accession number of the case dipped in turpentine. particles across a smoothly polished This is especially piece it came from and tag the good for cleaning the surface. If the dust accumulation brass. Record the location on the goo found under appears to be heavy enough to dull case piece. Refer to the metal brass hardware. the shine of a piece of furniture section for cleaning instructions. and if there are no surface • Remove slipcovers and any other irregularities such as f laking or removable textiles. Consult the lifting veneer, vacuum the piece textile section for cleaning with the soft brush attachment. instructions. Vacuum permanent • If f laking or lifting veneer is upholstery with low suction present, remove dust by an airjet through a plastic screen. from a blow-bulb such as an ear

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 26 Furniture

• Replace or shake out your dusting cloth often. Do not use a feather duster. • Use a soft brush on carvings. Use extreme caution when dusting gilt. Clean by dusting lightly with a soft brush. Use a soft brush or a padded low “ Varnished furniture should be rubbed only powered vacuum to remove dust in with silk, except occa- deeply carved areas. sionally, when a little • To wax furniture, use a clean cloth sweet-oil should be to apply a small amount of paste rubbed over, and wax such as Johnson’s bowling wiped off carefully. alley wax or Renaissance wax. Do For unvarnished not use household polishes, such Musical Instruments furniture, use bees- as Endust, Pledge, Olde English, HANDLING TIPS: wax, a little softened with sweet-oil; rub it or spray waxes with silicone. Do not attempt to move large case in with a hard brush, Allow to dry, then buff with lots pieces, like pianos, harpsichords, or and polish with of elbow grease. organs, without first consulting with a woolen and silk rags. • Wax furniture only once every knowledgeable conservator or a Some persons rub in year or two. More just creates a mover. The works can be severely linseed-oil; others mix waxy build-up. damaged if the instrument is moved bees-wax with a little incorrectly. spirits of turpentine • Dust with magnetic cloth in and rosin, making it so between polishings to remove that it can be put on dust. Marble Tops with a sponge, and Clean the case as you would regular wiped off with a soft Clocks furniture. Dust keys or delicate sections, rag. Others keep in a Dust the exterior case only. Have a e.g., the music rack bottle the following professional clean the clock face, the with soft brush. Do not attempt to mixture: two ounces of works or the reverse of the glass door clean the internal works of the instru- spirits of turpentine, four table-spoonfuls of panels. ment. sweet-oil, and one Apply Renaissance Wax with a clean quart of milk. This is cloth to polished areas only. Use the applied with a sponge, wax like a cleaner by moving it over the and wiped off with a surface and turning your cloth often. linen rag.”

Let dry when your cloth comes away Beecher, Catharine E. clean. Buff. & Stowe, Harriet Beecher. The American Woman’s Home or, Principles of Domestic Science. Hartford: Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 1998 (originally printed 1869).

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 27 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 28

Glass

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HANDLING TIPS: dishpan. Use only a small amount of soap, do not create so many Inspect the object before moving it and be prepared to compensate for bubbles you cannot see the object any weaknesses when moving it. Be in the water. Immerse the object especially aware of any previous and wash carefully with a soft breaks and repairs. cloth. Do not scrub. Rinse Supplies Needed: Do not wear loose clothing that thoroughly in a separate rubber dish pan may catch, knock over, or drag across dishpan of lukewarm water with rubber mat sponge objects. one drop of ammonia to aid in cloth for washing Do not wear cotton gloves. They drying. Dry immediately with a cloths for drying/ do not provide adequate friction buffing for handling glass. Wear rubber Ivory Liquid gloves to improve your grip. Orvus soap Do not pick up any glass rubber/latex gloves object by handles, knobs, or hair dryer spouts, even if they are meant for that purpose. Remove all detachable parts, such as lids. Use both hands to pick up any item, with one hand under the object and the other hand cradling the piece to equalize the stress on the object. Never stack glass; rims crack and break easily.

• Dust glass with a soft, lint- free cloth or soft brush. Change the cloth often, as a build-up of grime may scratch the surface. Do not use sprays, oils, or liquids. soft cloth. Use a hair dryer on cool • Dust applied labels, decorations, and low speed to dry ornate gilding, and painting with extreme decoration. Do not deep clean if care. glass shows signs of instability, • Be careful if an object shows signs previous repairs or damage, or if of damage or repair. any metal element is present (avoid touching these areas). • To deep clean glass, make a solution of Ivory soap and • Do not clean glass in the lukewarm water in a rubber dishwasher, as the abrasives in the dishwasher soap can easily pit or

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 29 etch the surface of the glassware, Mirrors and the heat from the water can To handle and clean mirrors, see break delicate pieces. Framed Objects on page 27. Note that silvered portion of a mir- Chandeliers ror can separate from the glass and • Turn off the power first. discolor from age, moisture, etc. Noth- • If chandelier can be taken apart, ing can be done to fix this, other than take a photograph (or several) of to put in a ref lective surface in the loss the chandelier before disassembling areas or, as a last resort, replace the it. Photos provide a useful guide mirror. This should only be undertaken when reassembling a chandelier to if the mirror is NOT original to frame. ensure glass parts are returned to their proper location. • Clean in the same manner as other glass objects. Dust with a clean, lint-free cloth or soft brush. • If the chandelier can’t be taken apart, use a commercial “chandelier cleaner,” which is sprayed on the glass surfaces, allowed to drip onto a plastic mat and absorbent towel, and then wiped off and dried.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 30

Metals

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HANDLING TIPS: Silver Always wear cotton gloves when • Dust lightly with a soft cotton handling metals. The salts and oils in cloth or soft brush. Polish residues your hands are extremely corrosive to can be removed using mineral metals. Remove any detachable parts, spirits and elbow grease (with a Supplies Needed: such as lids, and carry them toothpick and cotton). Avoid separately. Use both hands when scratching the metal. running water dish pan picking up any object. Place one hand • To deep clean, wash in a plastic tub under the object and use the other to rubber mat with a mild detergent such as Ivory sponge support the piece. Never pick up a or Orvus. cloth for washing metal object by handles, knobs, or cloths for drying/ • To remove tarnish, make a slurry spouts, even if they are made for that buffing purpose. (the consistency of thick cream) of silver cleaner Never allow metal objects to come precipitated chalk and distilled brass/copper cleaner in contact with one another. Even water and apply with cotton. pewter cleaner detachable parts should be padded. Denatured alcohol can be added to wire brush Groups of small objects may be remove tarnish more quickly, but it 0000 steel wool carried together in a padded box or requires proper ventilation and can rubber/latex gloves microcrystalline wax basket. They must be protected from cause damage to some silver each other. acetone surfaces. Using a circular motion, soft toothbrush polish gently, but make sure to Pewter and Lead change the cotton regularly to avoid abrading the metal surface. • Dust lightly with a soft cotton • Wash again in Ivory or Orvus, cloth or soft brush. rinse well and dry immediately • A microcrystalline wax such as with a soft cotton cloth and hair Renaissance Wax may be used to dryer if there is ornate decoration. coat and protect pewter or lead. • Apply a thin coating of Coat the entire object since microcrystalline wax such as uncoated areas may be susceptible Renaissance Wax with a soft cloth to spot corrosion. or diaper to coat and protect the • Spots of loosely adhered white object. Turn the cloth often. Be powder indicate active corrosion. sure to coat the entire object, as Seek the advice of a metals any exposure may lead to spot conservator as soon as possible. corrosion. • Do not try to polish pewter or • If a large piece of silver is only for lead. Pewter does not have a shine display and is not moved or and should age. touched regularly, it can be lacquered by a professional metals person to retard tarnishing. The

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 31 Metals

piece should be inspected Brass/Bronze & Copper regularly, as moisture can cause the • Dust with a soft cotton cloth or lacquer to “bloom” (turn white) soft brush. and to peel off. • Use mineral spirits and a Q-Tip to • Keep silver away from wool or felt remove polish residues. Avoid materials that are often used in scratching the metal. drawer linings or for storage. These • To deep clean, polish with Nevr- can cause the piece to tarnish Dull, using a small wad of cotton Need a Metal quickly. Statement cloth. Buff excess with a lint free • Store silver in Pacific Cloth bags, cloth. If wood does not which inhibit tarnishing. • Use a microcrystalline wax to coat show signs of bloom, • It is better not to use commercial mix distilled water and protect the object. Be sure to with a teaspoon of polishes regularly, as they contain coat the entire object, since any Ivory cleaner and apply abrasive materials that can exposure may lead to spot gently with soft cotton permanently scratch or mar the corrosion. cloth to areas of wax silver’s surface. Some polishes, build-up. Dry immedi- such as 3M’s Tarnishield can be Tinned Metal ately. used on everyday silver, but should If the surface is • Dust with a soft clean cloth. especially grimy, test a not be used on historic materials. • Remove dirt with mineral spirits small area first and on cotton balls. scrub the surface very Iron • Wax with microcrystalline wax to gently with 0000 steel • Dust iron with a soft cotton cloth protect from moisture and wool dipped in turpen- or soft brush. Be sure to remove handling. tine. This is especially all ashes from andirons, grates, or good for cleaning the fireplace tools. • Before replacing a metal object that goo found under brass rests on another object (table, hardware. • Clean with mineral spirits and textile, etc.), cut a piece of felt or cotton balls/swabs for deep Mylar to fit under the metal object. cleaning. This protects whatever it is resting • Light surface corrosion may be on from corrosion. reduced using 0000 steel wool and penetrating oil (CRC 3-36 or WD- 40). Follow by degreasing with acetone, then coat with a microcrystalline wax.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 32

Carpets

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HANDLING TIPS: Historic Carpeting Always use at least two people to • Protect wooden baseboards, handle a rug. Roll the rug up with wallpaper, and furniture with pile side out and take outside to polyethylene foam sheeting (Volara) clean. Don’t fold the rug. while vacuuming. “ To Wash Carpets. — Shake and beat it well; • Use a HEPA-style vacuum to collect lay it upon the floor, dirt and possible air-born Modern Carpeting and tack it firmly; then microorganisms from spreading. with a clean flannel • Protect wooden baseboards, • Using a fiberglass or nylon piece of wash it over with one wallpaper, and furniture with screening or mesh, vacuum the rug quart of bullock’s gall, polyethylene foam sheeting at less than full suction. mixed with three (Volara) while vacuuming. Vacuum quarts of soft cold • Never use beater bars or rotary at full suction. water, and rub it off brush attachments on historic with a clean flannel or • Always remove carpet from carpeting. house cloth. Any par- historic areas for spot or deep • Cover all fringe areas with a piece ticular dirty spot cleaning. of cardboard during vacuuming. should be rubbed with • Use a product such as Resolve to The suction on even partial- pure gall.’ The oftener these spot clean as necessary. strength vacuums can remove are taken up and • Have the carpet professionally antique fringe from a carpet. shaken, the longer they cleaned once a year. • If a rug is very dirty, take it outside will wear, as the dust and gently shake it to get rid of and dirt underneath excess dirt. This should always be grind them out. Sweep done by at least two people. carpets with a stiff hair brush, instead of • Vacuum rugs on both sides. Pile an old corn broom, if rugs should be vacuumed in the you wish them to wear direction of the pile. long or look well. At • For heavy-duty cleaning, consult a any rate, keep a good textile/rug conservator about broom purposely for the specific requirements. carpet.” Hale, Sarah Josepha. The Good Housekeeper or, the Way to Live Well, and to Be Well While We Live. Boston: Otis, Broaders, & Company, 1841.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 33 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 34

Textiles

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HANDLING TIPS: When moving large textiles, support them in a large basket. Avoid sharp, tight folds. Avoid touching upholstery when moving furniture. If touching is unavoidable, wear cotton gloves only if they will provide an adequate grip on the object. If they will not, wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling the object. Take removable textiles to a table for examination and cleaning. When cleaning window Need Textile Tidbit treatments and bed hangings, Allow to dry, and take several photographs or then check for bloom or make sketches of how the textiles are discoloring. If wood lift and lower the brush as you move hung before removing them. does not show signs of it over the material. Never allow the Handle fabrics as little as possible bloom, mix distilled and, whenever possible, support head of the attachment to touch the water with a teaspoon textiles on an acid-free tissue lined textile. of Ivory cleaner and tray or other rigid support when • Examine the material often to make apply gently with soft cotton cloth to areas of moving. Carry costumes and large sure you are not damaging the wax build-up. Dry textiles cradled over both arms to textile with too much suction. immediately. If the evenly distribute the weight and • Stay away from weakened areas. surface is especially avoid dragging any portion on the Avoid vacuuming near metallic grimy, test a small area floor. threads, braid, trim, or areas of wear. first and scrub the surface very gently • Vacuum upholstery through a • Check the condition of the textile with 0000 steel wool fiberglass screen. Use care not to dipped. carefully. If the textile is sturdy, touch the object with the vacuum. vacuum using either a hand-held or Remember that any part of the low-powered vacuum and a clean vacuum may damage the object. brush attachment (do not allow this • To clean costumes, use nylon attachment to touch the ground or screen/mesh and an upholstery any other dirty area), or vacuum attachment on the lowest setting, through a fiberglass screen and hold the nozzle above the fabric. bordered with a white cotton tape. Vacuum costumes with extreme • While vacuuming, do not drag the caution, as threads can easily be brush attachment across the textile; pulled by the suction of the vacuum.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 35 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 36

Bathrooms & Kitchens

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General Cleaning • Do not use strong acidic solutions • Remove iron rust stains with or commercial kitchen cleaners as oxalic acid. Wear gloves and safety they contain abrasives that can dull glasses or a face shield, and follow enamel finishes. manufacturer’s instructions for use. Sinks & Commodes “ Abathroom or kitchen • Scum and mineral deposits can be • The same polishing agents quote. Beat your carpets with your softened and removed using mentioned above can be used on enamel tubs. carpet rods until commercially made cleaners for perfectly clean from this purpose, which can be found Chrome Fixtures dust, then if there be at grocery and hardware stores. any ink spots take it • Chromium is usually plated on to • Heavy mineral stains can be out with a lemon, and other base metals, especially for if oil spots, take out as removed by the following method: fixtures. In itself it does not — remove the fixture from the in the foregoing re- corrode. ceipt.” room and take it outside • Chrome can suffer from peeling — stop up the drain and fill the Roberts, Robert. and bubbling. Do not try to f latten The House Servant’s bowl with a weak mixture of Directory. Boston: the bubbles or repair the peeling, muriatic acid and water. Monroe and Francis, as you will damage the chrome and 1827. — rinse thoroughly before rein- encourage corrosion of the base stalling the fixture (do not metal. dump solution on plant materi- als, as it will kill them) • Do not wash with water. Clean — don’t use this method on cast with commercial chrome cleaner or iron fixtures, as it will perma- with methylated spirits on a piece nently damage them. of cotton to remove dirt. Tubs Floors See specific entries under Cleaning • If the enamel surface of cast iron Procedures — Floors or Ceramic Tiles. tub is scratched or scuffed, it can be buffed to some extent with such materials as tin oxide, which is used to polish marble. Or try car polishing compounds that are used to rub out car paint surfaces. • While resin tub coatings make your cast iron tub look new again, they only last 15-20 years and can’t be removed or renewed.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 37 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 38 APPENDIX

Sources of Technical Assistance

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American Association of Museums Center for Materials Research Government Printing Office 1225 Eye Street, NW – Suite 200 & Education Superintendent of Documents Washington, DC 20005 Museum Support Center/Smithsonian Washington, DC 20402-9325 (202) 289-1818 Institution (202) 783-3238 www.aam-us.org Washington, DC 20560 www.access.gpo.gov W/T/P (301) 238-3700 P American Association for State www.si.edu/scmre Guild of Book Workers & Local History T 521 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10175 1717 Church Street Chicago Area Conservation Group palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/ Nashville, TN 37203 2600 Kerlinger Road P/T (615) 320-3203 Geneva, IL 60134 www.aaslh.org palimpsest.stanford.edu/cacg Heritage Preservation E/T/P C Suite 566 American Institute for Conservation CoOL - Conservation OnLine 1730 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 palimpsest.stanford.edu of Historic & Artistic Works (202) 634-1427 T/P 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 340 www.heritagepreservation.org Washington, DC 20036 Conservation Center for Art T/P/CAP Grants/Emergency Response (202) 452-9545 & Historic Artifacts Image Permanence Institute palimpsest.stanford.edu/aic 264 S. 23rd Street R/P/T Rochester Institute of Technology Philadelphia, PA 19103 70 Lomb Memorial Drive American Library Association (215) 545-0613 Rochester, NY 14623 50 E. Heron Avenue www.ccaha.org (716) 475-5199 Chicago, IL 60611 C/T www.rit.edu/ipi (800) 545-2433 Conservation Center of the Institute P/T/Testing www.ala.org of Fine Arts T/P Intermuseum Conservation 14 East 78th Street Association Association for Preservation New York, NY 10021 Allen Art Building Technology International (212) 772-5848 83 N. Main Street P.O. Box 3511 e-mail: [email protected] Oberlin, OH 44074 Williamsburg, VA 23187 T (440) 775-7331 (550) 373-1621 The Foundation Center www.oberlin.edu/~ica www.apti.org 1400 Connecticut Avenue at K Street, NW C T/P Washington, DC 200 Iowa Conservation & Preservation Balboa Art Conservation Center www.foundationcenter.org Consortium P.O. Box 3755 Grant Resource c/o State History Society of Iowa San Diego, CA 92163(619) 236-9702 Conservation Services — SPNEA 402 Iowa Avenue R 185 Lyman Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Bay Area Art Conservation Guild Waltham, MA 02154 www.grinnell.edu/individuals/stuhrr/ P.O. Box 2272 (781) 891-1985 icpc/icpc.html Ranco Cordova, CA 95241 www.spnea.org C/P palimpsest.stanford.edu/baacg/guild.htm C Library of Congress R Gallery Association of New York State Preservation Directorate Canadian Conservation Institute P.O. Box 345 101 Independence Avenue, SE 1030 Inness Road Hamilton, NY 13346 Washington, DC 20540 Ottawa, Canada K1A OM8 (315) 824-2510 (202) 707-5213 (613) 998-3721 T www.loc.gov /preserv www.cci-icc.gc.ca Getty Conservation Institute P/T C/W/T/P 4503 Glencoe Avenue Midwest Regional Conservation Guild Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Cumberland Art Conservation (310) 822-2299 3343 Acklen Avenue www.getty.edu/gci Nashville, TN 37212 P/R/W (615) 269-3868 C Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 39 Appendix: Sources of Technical Assistance

National Center for Film & Video New York State Office of Parks, Textile Conservation Center Preservation Recreation Museum of American Textile History American Film Institute & Historic Preservation 800 Massachusetts Avenue 2021 N. Western Avenue Bureau of Historic Sites North Andover, MA 01845 Los Angeles, CA 90027 Peebles Island-P.O. Box 219 (508) 686-0191 (313) 856-7637 Waterford, NY 12188 C www.afionline.org (518) 237-8643 Textile Conservation Workshop C/T www.nysparks.state.ny.us Main Street National Center for Preservation C/T/W South Salem, NY 10590 Technology & Training New Orleans Conservation Guild (914) 763-5805 NSU, Box 5682 4101 Burgundy Street C Natchitoches, LA 71497 New Orleans, La. 70117-5306 Upper Midwest Conservation (318) 357-6464 (504) 944-7900 Association www.ncptt.nps.gov (504) 944-8750 (f) 2400 3rd Avenue S. T/P/R www.artrestoration.com/ S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 National Historic Publications & C (612) 870-3120 Records Commission Northeast Document www.preserveart.org National Archives Building Conservation Center C Washington, DC 20408 100 Brickstone Square Virginia Association of Museums (202) 501-5610 Andover, MA 01810 1015 E. Clay www.nara.gov (978) 470-1010 Richmond, VA 23219 R/Grants www.nedcc.org (804) 648-8261 National Park Service P/T/C T Harpers Ferry Center OSHA Office Virginia Conservation Association Division of Conservation U.S. Dept. of Labor P.O. Box 4314 Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Richmond, VA 23220 (304) 535-6139 Room N3101 (804) 358-2006 www.nps.gov/hfc Washington, DC 20210 C T/P www.osha.gov P/T Washington Conservation Guild National Park Service P.O. Box 23364 Curatorial Services Division Pacific Regional Conservation Washington, DC 20026 P.O. Box 37127 CenterP.O. Box 19000-AHonolulu, HI (301) 238-3700 X178 Washington, DC 20013-7127 96819808/847-3511 palimpsest.stanford.edu/wcg/ www.nps.gov/crm C T/CR P/T Rocky Mountain Conservation Center Western Association for Art National Preservation Institute University of Denver Conservation Box 1702 Denver, CO 80208 c/o Chris Stavroudis Alexandria, VA 22313 (303) 733-2712 WAAC Secretary/Treasurer 703-765-0100 (303) 733-2508 (fax) 1272 N. Flores Street www.npi.org www.du.edu/rmcc Los Angeles, CA 90069 T C palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/ New England Conservation Society of American Archivists CR Association 527 S. Wells St., 5th Floor Williamstown Regional Art Old Sturbridge Village Chicago, IL 60607-3922www.archivists.org Conservation Laboratory 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road W/P Clark Art Institute Sturbridge, MA 01566 SOLINET (SE Library Network) 225 South Street (508) 347-3362 1438 W. Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 200 Williamstown, MA 01267 C Atlanta, GA 30309 (413) 458-5741 New York State Conservation (404) 892-0943 RC Consultancy www.solinet.net Winterthur Museum/ c/o Textile Conservation Workshop W/P/T University of Delaware Main Street Straus Center for Conservation Program in the Conservation of Artistic South Salem, NY 10590 Harvard University Art Museums & Historic Works (914) 763-5805 32 Quincy Street 303 Old College C Cambridge, MA 02138 Newark, DE 19716 (617) 495-9400 (302) 451-2479 www.artmuseums.harvard.edu seurat.art.udel.edu/ArtConHP.html C C/T

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 40 APPENDIX

Suppliers

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Archivart HMI Industries Nilfisk Box 428/7 Caesar Place 3631 Perkins AvenueCleveland, Ohio 300 Techno Drive Monachie, NJ 01074 USA216-432-1990/800-760-4644 Malvern, PA 19355 800-804-8428 www.filterqueen.com 800-645-3475 www.archivart.com — vacuums www.pa.nilfisk-advance.com — archival papers Hollinger Corporation — vacuum cleaners Bookmakers P.O. Box 8360 Process Materials Corporation 6001 66th Avenue Fredericksburg, VA 22404 301 Veterans’ Blvd. Suite 101 (800) 634-0491 Rutherford, NJ 07070 Riverdale, MD 20737 — acid free boxes/paper (201) 935-2900 (301) 459-3384 Leap Frog Technologies — archival supplies www.in-folio.com/bookmakers P.O. Box 1826 PureAir Systems — book conservation supplies 1408 11th Avenue, Suite 2 1325 Church Street BrownCor International Altoona, PA 16601 Clayton, IN 46118 770 South 70th Street (800) 443-7647 317-539-4097 Box 14770 — magnetic wipes www.pureairsystems.com Milwaukee, WI 53214 Light Impressions Corporation — vacuum cleaners www.BCadvantage.com 439 Monroe Avenue TALAS — ziplock bags Rochester, NY 14607-3717 Division of Technical Library Service, Inc. — bubble wrap (800) 935-2900 568 Broadway Bill Cole Enterprises www.lightimpressionsdirect.com New York, NY 10012 P.O. Box 60 — conservaiton supplies (212) 219-0770 Randolph, MA 02368 — chemicals www.talas-nyc.com 781-986-2653 Miehle Inc. — conservation supplies www.neponset.com.bcemylar 9 Independence Way — chemicals — archival supplies Princeton, NJ 08540 3M Products Conservation Resources (800) 843-7231 ? International, Inc. www.miele.com ? 8000-H Forbes Place — vacuum cleaners ? Springfield, VA 22151 Modern Solutions ? (800) 634-6932 6370 Copps Avenue — vacuums www.conservationresources.com Madison, WI 53716 University Products — archival supplies 800-288-2023 517 Main Street Electrolux Corp. National Bag Co., Inc. P.O. Box 101 (800) 243-9078 2233 Old Mill Road Holyoke, MA 01041-0101 www.electrolux-usa.com Hudson, OH 44236 (800) 628-1912 — vacuum cleaners (800) 247-6000 www.universityproducts.com Gaylord — poly zip-lock bags — conservation supplies P.O. Box 4901 — poly sheeting White Mop Wringer Company th Syracuse, NY 13221-4901 New Pig Corporation 10702 N. 46 Court (800) 634-6307 1 Pork Avenue Tampa, FL 33617 www.gaylord.com Tipton, PA 16584 813-971-2223 — conservation and book supplies 800-468-4647 www.white-pullmanholt.com Goodway Technologies Corp. www.newpig.com — vacuum cleaners 420 West Avenue — magnetic wipes Stamford, CT 06902 — emergency response supplies 203-359-4708 www.goodway.com — vacuums

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 41 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 42 APPENDIX

Supplys & Where to Get Them

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Material Type Uses Where to Buy

CHEMICALS/CLEANING MATERIALS Acetone cleaning label residue off ceramics & glass Hardware Store Alchol-isopropyl helps in drying process for ceramics/glass Silver Polish standard silver polishing — 3M Tarnishield — Goddard’s — precipitated chaulk — jeweler’s rouge Copper/Brass Polish standard copper & brass polishing — 3M Tarnishield — Never-Dull Glue minor repairs to furniture joints — hide Pewter Cleaner/Ploish standard pewter cleaning Plexiglass Cleaner liquid used to polish plexi and remove fingerprints Ammonia Household (non-sudsy) cleans window panes and picture glass Soap — Ivory Liquid (dish) cleans ceramics and glass Grocery/Hardware Store — Dirtex (non-aerosol) cleans walls and woodwork Hardware Store — Murphy’s Oil Soap cleans woodwork Grocery/Hardware Store —Orvus Paste cleans more delicate woodwork Conservation Supplier —TSP removes heavy-duty dirt from woodwork/walls Renaissance/microcrystaline waxcleaning, waxing and coating furniture Conservation Supplirs and marble bowling alley/hard paste wax cleaning and polishing f loors and furniture Hardware Store

CLEANING SUPPLIES Broom push variety for outdoor use; regular for sweeping Hardware Store Brushes — Artist (tape feral) dusting Art Supply Store — Wire removing rust on iron Hardware Store — Dusting dusting woodwork Hardware Store — Stippling for wax application Art Supply Store — Hake has no metal parts — great for general dusting Art Supply Store — Toothbrush, Children’s good for cleaning hard-to-reach metal areas Grocery Store Buckets general cleaning Grocery/Hardware Store Carpet Cleaner good for general cleaning of modern carpeting Grocery/Hardware Store — Resolve Cloths — Magnetic for picking up dust from woodwork and on objects Leap Frog Tech./New Pig Corp. — Diapers for general, lint-free, dusting Baby Supply Store Dish mat place in sink or dish pan; helps prevent breakage Hardware/Grocery Store or damage if object fropped Dish Pan used to carry small items, wash or soak individual Hardware/Grocery Store items during cleaning Gloves for cleaning glass and ceramics Grocery Store — rubber for holding metal objects, textiles and furniture Conservation Supply Store — cotton for cleaning glass and ceramics Medical Supplier Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 43 Appendix: Supplies and Where to Get Them

Material Type Uses Where to Buy

CLEANING SUPPLIES continued Mops for general wiping down of f loor surfaces — dust Hardware/Grocery Store — f loor Hardware Store 0000 Steel Wool cleaning rust from iron Hardware Store Sponges for wiping pieces when being washed Hardware/Grocery Store (ceramics, glass and metals)

FR AMING SUPPLIES Framing points and gun all used to halp rehang framed objects Framing Supplier Framer’s tape (acid-free) Framing/Conservation Supplier Eye hooks — assorted sizes Framing Supplier Picture hooks — assorted sizes Framing Supplier Picture wire — roll Framing Supplier 2” acid-free foam core board carrying textiles Art Supply Store backing board for framed prints and paintings Palette Knife removing old glue from backs of frames Art Supply Store separating items that are stuck together

MARKING SUPPLIES Acid-free tags w/ string temporary marking of object Conservation Supply Store Temporary changeable labels temporary marking Conservation Supply Store #2 pencils writing on tags and labels/filling out forms Office Supply Store Acid-free paper special lists for records Conservation Supply Store India ink used for marking objects Art Supply Store Red/white acrylic paints used for marking objects Art Supply Store

MEDICAL SUPPLIES Syringe irrigation of elaborately carved pieces Drug Store during cleaning Sterile cotton balls or roll used to wipe surfaces with different cleaning agents Drug Store Cotton swabs good for getting into detail carving on woodwork Medical Supplier and furniture Breathing masks used when chemicals are in use, Medical/Hardware Store ie. Acetone or mineral spirits

MISCELLANEOUS Hair dryer (Variable speed w/ used to dry glass and ceramics, especially pieces hot/medium/cool settings) with elaborate, applied, decoration Ladder — 6’ aluminum Hardware Store Acid-free tissue wrap broken items/items for moving to another Conservation Supply Store area/objects for storage/padding Mattress pads/padding padding of work tables Linen Store Screening, fiberglas/nylon vacuuming textiles, upholstery or carpets Hardware Store Sponges — cellulose cleaning ceramics and glass Grocery/Hardware Store Swabs, cotton cleaning furniture carvings or ceramics detailing Grocery/Medical Supplier Vacuum (variable power) Electrolux/HMI — canister style Light Impressions — portable

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 44 Appendix: Supplies and Where to Get Them

Material Type Uses Where to Buy

MISCELLANEOUS continued Plastic Ziplock Bags storage of broken pieces, small parts that are being Bag Company — assorted sizes cleaned separately (ie. Hardware from chest)

SEWING Needles Sewing Store Thread, button (cotton) — white — black Laundry pen marking twill tape with accession number Velcro closures for silver bags Pacific silvercloth used to make storage bags for silver (inhibits tarnishing) Scissors Twill tape, cotton used to make labels for textiles, rugs and costumes Muslin used for covering furniture during cleaning, or when site is closed to public during off-season

TOOLS Flashlight to see under peices of furniture Hardware Store Brads repair of frames, frame backs WD-40 loosening door locks, hinges Awl start hole for screw eyes in frame Hammer Cordless drill Level making framed objects level when rehung Pliers removal of backing boards Nails Screws — slotted — Phillips Screw drivers — slotted — Phillips

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 45 Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 46 APPENDIX

Useful Publications

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American Association for State and Local History. Housekeeping McGrath, Lee Parr. Housekeeping with Antiques. New York, N.Y.: Techniques for the Historic House. Nashville: AASLH, 1978. Dodd, Mead & Company, 1971.

American Institute for Conservation. Technical Pamphlets: Basic McKean, James N. Strings Magazine Guide to Common Sense Instru- Guidelines for the Care of Special Collections, Caring for Archi- ment Care. San Anselmo, CA: Strings Magazine, 1990. tecture, Caring for Your Paintings, Caring for Furniture, Caring for Your Photographs, Caring for Works of Art on Paper, Caring Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping for Textiles. Washington, D.C.: AIC, 1999. House. New York: Scribner, 1999.

Butcher-Younghans, Sherry. Historic House Museums: A Practical National Committee to Save America’s Cultural Collections. Car- Handbook for Their Care, Preservation & Management. New York, ing For Your Collections. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 1993. 1992.

Davis, Nancy. Handle with Care: Preserving Your Heirlooms. Roch- National Park Service. Conserve O Gram Series. Washington, D.C.: ester, N.Y.: Rochester Museum & Science Center, 1991. NPS, Curatorial Services Division, 1979—.

Heritage Preservation/National Park Service. Caring for Your His- Sanwith, Hermione & Stainton, Sheila. The National Trust Manual toric House. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1998. of Housekeeping. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin, 1987.

Johnson, Allen F. How to Care for Your Old House: An Owner’s Shelley, Marjorie. The Care & Handling of Art Objects. New York, Manual. New Haven, CT: Connecticut Trust for Historic Preser- N.Y.: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1987. vation, 1987. Williams, Marc A. Keeping It All Together: The Preservation & Care Koval, Ralph and Terry. Kovels Quick Tips: 799 Helpful Hints on of Historic Furniture. Worthington, Ohio: Ohio Antique Review How to Care for Your Collectibles. N.Y.: Three Rivers Press, 1995. Inc., 1990.

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 47 Offices of the National Trust for. . Historic...... Preservation...... Headquarters Southern Office Preservation Books are published National Trust Forum is a 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. William Aiken House by the National Trust for Historic membership program for Washington, D.C. 20036 456 King Street Preservation. For a complete list of preservationists—from board (202) 588-6296 Charleston, SC 29403-6247 titles call or write: members to students, from (843) 722-8552 Preservation Books, architects to educators, from Southern Field Office (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, National Trust for preservation commissioners to 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Historic Preservation planners, from volunteers to Washington, D.C. 20036 North Carolina, South Carolina, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. restoration contractors. Forum (202) 588-6107 Tennessee, West Virginia) Washington, D.C. 20036 membership provides you with (District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, (202) 588-6286 the knowledge, tools and Maryland, Virginia, Virgin Islands) Mountains/Plains Office FAX (202) 588-6223, resources to protect your 910 16th Street, Suite 1100 or visit our web site at community. As a Forum Midwest Office Denver, CO 80202-2910 www.nthpbooks.org. member you receive a subscription to Preservation magazine, Forum 53 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 350 (303) 623-1504 Copyright 2000 National Trust for Journal, and Forum News. Chicago, IL 60604-2103 (Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Historic Preservation Benefits also include discounts (312) 939-5547 Nebraska, North Dakota, South on conferences and all (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) Richard Moe publications listed in the Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, President Preservation Books catalog as Wisconsin) Southwest Office National Trust for Historic well as participation in financial/ 500 Main Street, Suite 1030 Preservation insurance assistance programs, Fort Worth, TX 76102-3943 Northeast Office technical advice and access to (817) 332-4398 Seven Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Peter Brink Forum Online, the online system (Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, 4th Floor Vice President designed for the preservation Oklahoma) Boston, MA 02109-1649 Programs, Services & Information community. To join send $115 to: (617) 523-0885 (Connecticut, Maine, Western Office Katherine Adams National Trust Forum Massachusetts, New Hampshire, One Sutter Street, Suite 707 Director National Trust for New York, Rhode Island, Vermont) San Francisco, CA 94104-4916 Preservation Services Historic Preservation (415) 956-0610 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Northeast Field Office (Alaska, Arizona, California, Elizabeth Byrd Wood Washington, D.C. 20036 6401 Germantown Avenue Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Editor (202) 588-6296 Philadelphia, PA 19144 Washington, Pacific island (215) 848-8033 territories) Donna Leahy (Delaware, New Jersey, Business Coordinator Pennsylvania)

Housekeeping for Historic Homes and House Museums 48