Thank you to everyone* who replied regarding my question about using products such “Swiffer” Dusters for removing surface dust from documents/items.  There was a definite consensus to the responses I received and so I wanted to synthesize what I learned and share it with “the list”.

 

 

Biggest takeaway:  Using Swiffers is not recommended.  Fibrous material, which many scratch or snag fragile items, and the possibility of chemical residue, makes this product (and others like it) a bad option.

 

Recommended tools include:

1. Considered the safest:  Brushes with fine, natural hair for removing surface dirt.  Recommendations were for softer artist’s brushes, not draftsman type.

2. Cotton material for light dusting.  Soft cotton diapers were the number one choice, but also included clean cotton sheets and muslin cloth.  One caveat was to be careful not to smudge any written markings on the document, while attempting to remove the dust/dirt.

3. Canned air for light dust.

4. Artgum erasers for marks and dirt.

 

 

Also, two online resources were provided:

 

 

http://www.gaylord.com/images/2005-022%20Pathfinders%20PDF.pdf

 

http://www.si.edu/mci/downloads/RELACT/paper_documents.pdf

 

 

 

Thanks again!

 

 

 

*Miriam, Ginny, Dean, & Annie.