Are you fixing the damp environment? If not, the respite will be temporary. Cellulosic materials 'over-buffer' by absorbing moisture quickly and giving it up very very slowly, unless pushed. So drying out the curtains may kill the psocids but the conditions favorable to their occupancy in the curtains will soon return unless the damp environment (microclimate by the windows) is not improved.

Mary W. Ballard
Senior Textiles Conservator,
Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution
4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD 20746 U.S.A.
tel: 301-238-1210 fax: 301-238-3709
email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scottish Conservation Studio
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 11:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Heat-treatment


Hi there,

Lynsey Haworth from Historic Scotland would appreciate help with the following: 'At one of our properties we have several sets of drapes on walls.  They are made from viscose chenille, gold thread and cotton. There had been lots of rumours about there being a pest problem within the drapes, and a pest control company did some investigation and found there to be booklice in the drapes, believed to be caused by the damp environment. The proposed treatment that they have suggested is a heat treatment, where the drapes are heated in a pod to between 54 and 60 degrees Celsius for approximately one hour, which will kill the booklice and any microscopic mould they may be living off of. The humidity is monitored during this process and the temperature can be adjusted to ensure that the drapes are not put at risk.

Could anyone tell me if they have used a similar method for treating a pest problem before? How safe is it to textiles?  I should note that the drapes are not historical. They are only about 13 years old, but were commissioned especially so are quite expensive and we do not want to risk them being damaged. If anyone can offer any advice or insight into this proposed method of treatment I would be very grateful.
Lynsey Haworth | Regional Collections Manager (Central)
__________________________________________________
Historic Scotland | Alba Aosmhor
Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH
t: 0131 668 8641   m| 07794 045801
e: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk'<http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/>


If you can help Lynsey, please send your reply directly to her e-mail address.

Many thanks,
Tuula Pardoe
Accredited Conservator of Costume and Textiles


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