Why Museums Turn To Fumigation Services

When you pack clothes away, store treasures in the basement, or box up your mementos for storage in the attic, you worry about damage from the elements and pests eating away at your keepsakes and clothing. Now, imagine that concern on a larger scale - a museum. How do curators and other museum staff protect timeless treasures and artifacts? They turn to fumigation services.

Learn why museums across the US turn to fumigation services.

What is Fumigation?

Fumigation is the process of using gas in an enclosed area to get rid of pests. Pest control professionals seal the area with a tent-like covering, plastic, and other airtight materials. Fumigation services target most pests that may be in your home or business, and in this case, the museum. Fumigation is nearly 100 percent effective for killing moths, roaches, beetles, spiders, bed bugs, and in some cases, termites, as well as any other pest causing trouble.

Pests and What They Do to Antiques

There are a handful of offenders that plague museum staff. Without fumigation services, controlling and preventing pests is a never-ending battle with little progress in sight. Museums must protect their works from:

• Textile pests/fabric pests
• Wood pests
• Paper pests
• Pests in stored products and collectibles

Signs of Infestations

Museum staff must be on the lookout for signs of pests:

• Droppings and casings
• Hair and fur
• Webs and nesting activity
• Holes in textiles and fabrics
• Chew marks
• Dead bugs

Why Museums Hire Fumigators

Museums in Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana use fumigation services to get rid of pests for a few reasons. First, fumigation targets a lot of problematic pests in large areas. Second, fumigation is safe for artworks, books, wooden objects, furniture, and more. Finally, even the most delicate displays and collections benefit from protection without the risk of damage.

Fumigation specialists are trained to protect and preserve priceless antiquities from a wide range of pest problems that afflict historic properties, artifacts, and museums. When the fumigators arrive, they have two goals in mind: get rid of pests and protect the antiquities. Both goals guide every step of the process, from the initial inspection to sealing and servicing the area.