PRESERVATION OF WALLPAPERS AS PARTS OF INTERIORS

Preservation of wallpaper as a part of interiors
polyester canvas, such as Hollytex or Parafil RT 20. 340
After hoovering, the residues of loose dirt should be removed
with a soft and wide brush, for example with soft Japanese bamboo
hake brushes. Working with hard brushes may work the
dirt deeper into the paper fibres, which makes it even harder
to remove.
Other widely used tools for removing dirt are dry-cleaning
sponges made of vulcanized natural rubber, which effectively
remove soot and smoke damage from wallpaper. 341 Since they
contain no chemical solvent additives, they are non-abrasive,
leave no detectable residue and can be reused after washing
and drying. On large-scale objects, such as in situ wallpapers,
they have proven to be irreplaceable.
Another material that can be successfully used for cleaning
the surface of wallpapers is an Akabad Dry Cleaning Sponge
(also known as a Wishab Sponge 342 ). A damaged and sensitive
paper surface should be cleaned with Akabad White. (Fig. 85)
The slightly harder Akabad Soft is meant for cleaning pictures,
mural paintings, textiles and well-preserved wallpapers. 343 One
should be careful not to rub the surface of a wallpaper too
hard, since that may cause the loss of pigments and flattening
of lightly embossed texture. Since Akabad sponges crumble, it
is necessary to clean the surface of the paper with soft brushes
afterwards to avoid any further abrasion. To test the effect of
the sponge and durability of the paper and paint layer, it is necessary
to make a small test patch on the edge of a wallpaper
segment. (Fig. 86)
For working with wallpaper fragments or lengths removed
from the wall, besides the above-mentioned Prochem Dry Chem
340
Deffner & Johann, Restaurierungsbedarf und Denkmalpflege seit 1880, Parafil RT 20
Polyester-Spinnvlies, accessed February 20, 2013 http://www.deffner-johann.de/
parafil-rt-20-polyester-spinnvlies-rolle-100-cm-x-50-m.html?___store=shop_en&___from_
store=shop_de.
341
University Products –The Archival Company, Dry Cleaning Sponges, accessed December
8, 2012, http://www.universityproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=1166&primary=
1&parentId=&navTree[]=1262&navTree[]=1296&navTree[]=1166.
342
CR – Conservation Resources UK Ltd., Wishab Dry Cleaning Sponge – Soft, accessed
February 20, 2013 http://www.conservation-resources.co.uk/index.php?main_
page=product_info&products_id=738.
343
Preservation Australia, Akapad Drycleaning Sponges, accessed December 7, 2012,
http://www.preservationaustralia.com.au/products/range/cleaning/akapad.
184