Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/245

Rh prisons, time-clocks are out of date in museums, universities, and all other institutions where a high order of intelligence is demanded.

CLEANING AND AVOIDANCE OF DUST

The processes of cleaning in a museum, while similar to those in a home, yet contain some elements of difference. For one thing, the first object in a museum must be the avoidance of dust. Some sort of sweeping compound which will collect the dust is therefore very valuable, and a dry mop is the most necessary of tools. Marble floors have to be washed and care must be taken in the selection of the soft soap to be used, as some soaps discolor the marble with excess fats and also leave the surface very slippery. For the marble standing finish, where streaks will show badly, a little ammonia in the water is helpful and no soap of any kind must be used. Cleaning powders also should be avoided. In dusting, the specially prepared oily dusters should not be used as they are hard to wash. A good quality of cheese-cloth is the best duster. It is soft and absorbent and can be washed easily and will not hurt any finish. For the dusting of the furniture on exhibition, this is also valuable. Polychromed sculpture should not be dusted except by an expert such as the gallery man or the director himself,