The Painstaking—Yet ‘Meditative’—Work of Museum Housekeeping

A recent article by the Atlantic Journal-Constitution (AJC) reveals the painstaking—yet “meditative” work of museum housekeeping.

Many of the tasks are identical to those of typical facility cleaning: vacuuming, dusting, polishing. But the items being cleaned—ancient artifacts, historic items, and even mummies—make museum housekeeping unique.

According to AJC, Atlanta’s High Museum of Art (known locally as “the High”), as one example, has more than 19,000 pieces of artwork, furniture, silver, china, masks, and papers that need to be properly maintained to ensure good preservation. All the items must be analyzed beforehand by special conservators to determine the best way to care for each one.

“Before things go on display, whether a temporary or permanent exhibition, they always come through the conservation lab so we can do responsible intervention, treatment, repair, reconstruction, or cleaning,” Lindsay Ryder, an assistant objects conservator at the Atlanta Art Conservation Center, told AJC. “We do a full assessment for any issues. Then we set up a maintenance program such as vacuuming certain items twice a year.”

Through the center, Ryder is hired by museums to do the housekeeping for their pieces. According to AJC, Ryder often dons her headphones and plays a podcast while doing her work. “I find polishing silver meditative,” she said.

Tasks that might often be done with little thought are much more involved for museum housekeepers. Dusting and polishing, for example, need to be performed keeping in mind the age and integrity of the items being cleaned. Polishing can remove a layer of the precious silver of an ancient piece. Dusting can disturb the incredibly delicate surface of an old painting.

“We dust off painting frames and possibly some of the paintings, but the people who do it are terrified because the painting surfaces are so fragile,” Robert Howells, chief preparator for the High, told AJC. “We want to extend the life into the future as much as possible.”

Cleaning tools for the museum pieces tend to be different too. Rubber sponges that resemble ones used for cosmetics are used to wiped down the intricate surfaces of wood pieces. Special brushes that don’t create too much additional dust are used as well. At the same time, more traditional feather dusters and even Swiffer pads are also put to use.

Special attention needs to also be given to cleaning products. Rebecca Selem, DeKalb History Center Museum exhibit and communications coordinator, told AJC that she avoids harsh chemicals.

“I’ve learned on the job and don’t trust regular cleaning products,” Selem said. “When in doubt, don’t use it. But we do use Pledge.”