Now, Back to BusinessMuch of the information in this article is from The National Task Force on Emergency Response, which is an initiative of Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These guidelines are based on the experience of the conservation professionals who care for our nation's treasures in museums and libraries. They are also good general instuctions on how to clean up the ash, dust, and soot that cover surfaces in buildings near accidents such as explosions and fires and also near heavy construction work especially if concrete dust is deposited on the surfaces you need to clean. The information I have here is not a complete guide to the subject and if you have no further experience on the topic I would not take on this type of work. But it is a good introduction and will give you an idea of the equipment and the techniques you need to carry out this type of job. Cleaning Techniques for Ash, Soot, and Concrete DustThe dust from debris and ash is granular and will scratch delicate surfaces if you try to wipe it away with a rag. The most important thing for you to remember is -- no dust cloth. Use a vacuum cleaner or a gentle brush. Soot is also granular and greasy. If the dust and dirt cannot be removed by vacuuming, try a special product known as a soot sponge. Here are general guidelines for cleaning common objects: 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. 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. Furniture: Vacuum with a brush attachment. Don't use polishes or oils. Ceramics, Silver, Ivory, 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. Cleaning Equipment for Ash, Soot, and Concrete DustIt's outside the scope of this article to cover all the possible health/environmental concerns involved in this kind of cleaning work. That's the main reason I say that if you don't have any other knowledge or experience in this field you should not proceed. Having said that, follow all recommended safety precautions, which at the least will include surgical masks and gloves. Soot sponges, whick I mentioned earlier, can be obtained through specialty cleaning companies. Soot sponges are never used with a liquid. Follow instructions - dab, don't rub. There are any number of locations on the web you can buy soot sponges from. Hardware and art supply stores should have almost everything else. A hand-held, suction-only vacuum cleaner or canister machine with nozzle attachments and variable speeds. Remember that the exhaust port will blow out the dust you take in; so you need proper filtration. Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter to do the the best job possible. 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. However, you can cover any metal parts with cloth adhesive tape. Clean and thoroughly dry the brushes as they become soiled. They will become soiled pretty quickly on this type of job so make sure you have enough to get through each day's work.
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