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Dust Cloths for Rare or Valuable Materials

1. One- Wipe™ Dust Cloth by Guardsman (the furniture polish makers) is a yellow flannel chemically treated cloth. It can be hand washed in cold water and a small amount of mild detergent (such as LUX) up to ten times. By then it will have lost its enhanced dust-holding properties. The manufacturer claims 20 washes but I've not found that to be the case in over 20 years of use. Cost about $3.50 each. These cloths can be purchased in most hardware stores and food markets as well as most of the library and archival catalogues.
2. Stretch 'n Dust™ by Johnson & Johnson Advanced Materials, New Brunswick, N.J., is a disposable chemically treated cloth, yellow with light orange dots. The cloth was developed by Chicopee Products which was recently purchased by J&J. To increase the dust-holding capacity, one gently stretches the cloth prior to use. It comes in packages of 20 cloths, 23"x24", #0414, 20 packages to the case, $126/case. This works out to around $.32 each. I suggest calling 1-800-835-2449 for the nearest distributor.
3. There is a third cloth recently available--Dust Bunny™ a Tyvek and nylon cloth that has a slight electrostatic charge with no chemical treatment. They are about 16" square and white. They can be washed in a washing machine with a mild detergent and seem to last forever. However, they currently cost about $5 each. Dust Bunny is available from Light Impressions, University Products and Gaylord.

Both One Wipe and Stretch 'n Dust have been okayed for use in libraries and archives by the Library of Congress and the National Archives. Neither leave a residue on books, boxes or shelves. However, after prolonged use the user's hands feel sticky since some of the chemical come off on one's hands and then dust adheres to the fingers.

Stretch 'n Dust is more economical for large scale dusting projects. And since they are disposable, they would be a better choice for use in environments where mold might be present. However, I like to use Dust Bunny in our book repair shop and in the archives, because they are softer and one's hands stay cleaner.

Michaelle Biddle
Wesleyan University Library
Middletown, CT

What Is Conservation? (fact sheet), Guidelines for Selecting a Conservator (brochure), Caring for Your Treasures: Books to Help You (bibliography), and Caring for Special Objects (brochure) are also available from AIC. Emergency Preparedness and Response: Federal Aid for Cultural Institutions During an Emergency (brochure) is available from NIC, 3299 K Street, NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC. 20007. Phone: (202) 625-1495, Fax: (202) 625-1485. E-mail: John_Ketchum@nic1.imssys.com

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Getty Conservation Institute, the American Association of Museums, the American Library Association, the Institute of Museum Services, the National Park Service and the Society of American Archivists. For more information, contact the AIC or NIC.

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