r/MuseumPros • u/MirandaOutside • 2d ago
Rodent issue clean-up
Hi all! New to this subreddit, as I'm an environmental education professional who is now tasked with a what amounts to a historic house museum role, and have a question about dealing with rodent remnants.
The context: our park recently took over a historic house museum that had been operated by a university, but which sat vacant for the last 6 years. I'm consulting with lots of folks on this (state agency folks, other local partners), and have done some collections care and management courses, but figured I'd through this out to the masses to get some advice.
Situation: The museum is actually a reconstruction of an 1822 structure that had nearly completely fallen down. The reconstruction is from the 60s, using some original building materials, but is not itself a historic structure. Within the museum are many artifacts - some on loan, some now "ours", few if any pieces original/significant to the place, most period, but not all. In the six years that the building sat unused there was a significant mouse infestation. Mice have eaten woolens, shredded papers, nested, and urinated and defecated and made significant stains on windowsills, etc.
My questions: If I need to bag and isolate things with rodent contamination for a period of time, how to do that with larger things like furniture?
If I'm to "wet clean" to disinfect (non collection) surfaces (floors, windowsills) so as to not make contamination airborne, what's the best product to use on finished and/or painted wood? I'm not too concerned bc those surfaces are not historic, but I don't want to ruin anything, yet do want to disinfect and get rid of stains. It seems bleach is a no go, lysol is a maybe, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar possible but iffy -- nothing seems great. Thoughts?
What about after collection items were isolated? What about cleaning/wiping down a period wooden table, for example? I realize threat of virus is reduced by the isolation, but that doesn't solve the fact it was defecated and urinated upon. Perhaps treat like mold on furniture and do vinegar, being careful to dry?
What about textiles that were severely compromised and have little historic value -- please tell me I can deaccession and dispose of these...(FWIW my agency has no collections policy, we're trying to do the absolute best job we can but there is no official policy. we'll make a site level one but I'm on day 3 of this, ha ha)
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u/coc0nutshr1mp 2d ago edited 2d ago
i also work at a museum with several historic buildings and homes and we are constantly dealing with mice and other pests. to isolate things with mold/bugs/contamination, we will either freeze (if it's insects and can fit in a freezer) or use large clear polyethylene sheeting to make an airtight bag around the object. We cut the sheets to size and use packing tape to seal all seams and keep track of isolation time. we've done that method for large furniture like antique sofas, chests, beds, etc. we use a vinegar/water mix to clean contaminated surfaces (treated wood and nonpourous materials, windowsills, etc). Gold standard for disinfecting rodent poop and pee is 1:10 bleach/water mix, but obviously that can't be used on most things. you'll have to do your research and use your discretion on the type of materials and if bleach or vinegar can be used on them.
It comes to a certain point where depending on the object/material, if something is so ruined or contaminated or stained it may need professional conservation or need to be trashed according to your collections policy. since you have none make sure you document and keep all documentation (photos, condition reports, etc) and check with higher-ups before trashing. we have had to deacession several things due to rodent or bug damage that were just too far gone to be able to fix. make sure you wear PPE! and vacuuming anything use HEPA filters!