Introduction

Collecting and preserving art is a creative endeavor. When galleries, museums, art collectors, and even auction houses are involved in the process of art preservation and management, they often face a common threat – pest infestations.

If you associate yourself with the situation given above and are an avid collector of artistic pieces, this blog is for you. Today, we’re going to look at some of the most common pests found in artistic sanctuaries, followed by a few tips to protect your art collection from these pest infestations.

Common Pest Threats in Art Storage

Insects

Insects like termites, moths, beetles, and silverfish are common foes of art collections. If your art pieces are made of natural materials like silk, wool, or fur, they’re more likely to attract these insects. They’re also more likely to attack any art pieces made of wood and paper.

Rodents

Rodents can be more obvious to the naked eye but they also cause large amounts of damage owing to their gnawing and chewing habits. Mice and rats can swiftly tear through art pieces and leave droppings everywhere that may stain valuable art. If you’re storing your items in a cardboard box, rodents might easily be able to get to your art pieces.

Mold

Last but not least, too high levels of moisture and humidity can cause art pieces, depending on the material that they are made from, to mold or grow fungi, both of which can cause the art piece to deteriorate and lose its aesthetic value. Even a small amount of moisture is enough to cause mold growth in art collections.

5 Ways to Protect Your Art Collection from Pests

Identify the Risks and Streamline Procedures

Once you have understood which pests can be commonly found around your art storage and ways through which they penetrate into your art collection, you can then focus on implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This involves the use of biological, cultural, and chemical methods to keep your valuable art possessions safe from a variety of pests.

Alternatively, streamlining the process of how you handle and store a variety of art can also be a deciding factor in how well your art collection remains protected from pest infestation. Many storage units prefer quarantining new art pieces for a couple of days before moving them to the original art facility, especially if these art pieces have been shipped internationally and may potentially be contaminated.

Plan the Space Inside the Storage Facility

One of the easiest ways to prevent attracting any pests to your art collection is by keeping any food or drinks away from the storage space. You must also ensure that proper pest barriers are installed in place. These pests can sneak in from even a small hole or opening in the storage facility and multiply inside.

When you seal all the entry and exit points, you may want to look at options for cross ventilation too. The best way to store large amounts of art pieces without overcrowding is to make proper use of elevated shelves. This makes it easier to find signs of pests and protect your art collection from rodents and insects.

Ensure Proper Cleanliness and Sanitation

The best way to prevent pest infestation is to invest in regular cleaning and sanitation of the art storage facility. By using products that repel pests, both chemical pesticides and natural deterrents like peppermint oil and dried lavender, you can prevent any pests from entering the art storage space.

Another component of sanitation that’s not talked about enough is the resources and energy that you must expend to conduct frequent inspections of the art storage facility. To regularly monitor the pest control measures that you’ve put in, you must deeply understand the techniques employed, signs of infestation, utilizing pest traps, and ways to use monitoring devices appropriately for the best results.

Disseminate Knowledge Regarding Pest Treatments

The next step is to be ready with the right kind of treatments if a pest infestation happens. This includes the use of IPM strategies discussed above but will also require proper team training.

Team training may include aspects of pest identification, preventing the growth of pests, documenting and reporting any pest activity, choosing the right preventive strategies depending on the type of pests, and following proper cleaning and sanitizing procedures set in place.

In cases where an infestation has already taken hold, relying on a targeted treatment approach can make a significant difference. Instead of using broad-spectrum pesticides that may damage delicate art materials, specialized pest control services focus on identifying the exact pest species and applying precise treatments to eliminate them while minimizing risks to your collection. For example, non-toxic heat treatments are often used to eradicate insects without introducing harmful chemicals into the environment, making them an excellent option for galleries and museums.

Find the Right Storage Solutions

Choosing the right storage material and facility is the quickest and easiest way to keep your art collection intact and away from pests. You must pick airtight containers and boxes to preserve your art pieces if they’re being stored in a general storage space. Alternatively, finding a storage facility that caters to pest and temperature management protocols needed for your art’s longevity might be a quality investment.

You can also find high-density storage racks that are mobile in nature. If your art pieces are big and heavy to carry around, these racks can make it easy to transport them from one place to another without the hassle of removing them from their containers.

Final Thoughts

While there is no one right way to protect your art collection, be it at home or storage, understanding the common pest threats associated with it can help you find the solutions that are suitable for you.