Simple Tips for Home Care

You can take small steps at home to prevent damage and slow down deterioration of your cherished items. At Winterthur, and at other museums, we call this preventive conservation and have staff members dedicated specifically to that work. Preventive conservation is a lot like preventive medicine. Everything that is man-made or from nature decays; think of it as nature’s recycling plan. To protect and preserve the museum collection, our staff works to slow the rate of that decay by managing things like insects and pests, light exposure, and the environment via heating and air conditioning. Here are some tips that you can use at home:

1. Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is an important part of protecting items that you want to last. Cleaning inside includes regular dusting and vacuuming, and dry-cleaning fine clothes after use and before storage. Outside, cleaning gutters and downspouts to prevent leaks can all help. Dust holds moisture, which can rust metals and encourage mold growth.

2. Pest Control

Insects like dark, undisturbed spaces. If you clean regularly, you’ll probably spot early signs of an infestation, like insect droppings, which may just look like dust. If pests are eating your items, a thorough vacuuming can help. For example, carpet beetle larvae like to hide in cracks where hair and skin particles collect, so you may notice that your carpet has damage that follows the pattern of the flooring. For items that can withstand high heat, place them in a black trash bag and leave them in your car trunk while parked in direct sunlight for several hours to kill any pests.

3. Storage

We don’t recommend storing objects in attics or basements because it’s difficult to maintain a stable environment. Basements have issues with moisture and can flood, and attics can have seasonal temperature extremes; too cold temperatures can cause shrinking and cracking, while temperatures that are too hot can cause swelling and warping. Also, temperature and humidity work hand in hand and can cause chemical reactions and encourage mold or insect growth. We recommend storing cherished items in spaces that you live in and use.

4. Record Keeping

Write down the history of your items—who gave them to you, who is in the photos, and why they are important. This helps preserve their significance and keeps the information safe for future generations. Be sure to back up digital records and print copies for long-term use.

5. Storage Methods and Materials

Museum-quality storage materials are often called archival, acid-free, or buffered, among other names. They can be expensive for homeowners, but you can use everyday items you already have instead. For example, undyed/unbleached cotton pillowcases can protect a quilt, and rolled towels can be used to store a rolled carpet. If you need a more rigid storage method for rollable items, use a poster tube covered in aluminum foil, which acts as a barrier against moisture.

6. Light Protection

We all know that ultraviolet light is bad; it causes sunburn and can accelerate fading on some materials. Regular visible light, the light we use to see, can also cause slow, cumulative damage. It may take years to notice the subtle changes. To protect sensitive items like basketry and wood, textiles, and works on paper, avoid displaying them in direct sunlight. Use curtains, shades, or window films (replace every 15 years) to limit exposure to harmful light. You may also want to have covers made for your framed object so that when you aren’t enjoying the work and displaying it, it’s completely covered. 

For more tips, check out our book Caring for Your Cherished Objects, available in the Winterthur Museum Store.

See also our Hazardous Objects blog, the first in our Caring For Your Collections Blog Series.

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