On paper yes those temperatures could work but I would do two cycles with a few months bagged and observe period if you don’t need the object right away and only if that’s your last resort. I would lobby for a proper colder freezer in a secure location though. For example it’s a security risk to treat an object in say a cafeteria freezer or an outside freezer not in a secured location even if it has a padlock on the door. Jist the action of moving an object from one building to another part of the campus invites risk. Also the benefit of future use of a freezer just to prevent pest issues is such a plus. I would try to get buy in to purchase one. Doesn’t hurt to ask and if they shoot you down then maybe ask again in a year or so. JTV
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________ From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Wendi Field Murray <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:18:16 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [PestList] Proper freezing temps for pest mitigation [CAUTION: This message originated from outside the Foundation. Do not click links, open attachments or take action unless you know the contents are safe] Hello, We recently received a woven woolen rug for our collection that shows signs of clothes moth activity (frass, casings, eggs) and we would like to mitigate with a low-temperature treatment before cleaning and introducing to our collections storage space. According to Museumpests, the ideal temperature should be sustained -20 F for 72 hours, though I cannot find a freezer on our campus that gets below a range of -10 to 10 F. Is this sufficient, or is there too big a risk they would survive the treatment at that temperature? Just need to know if there is wiggle room in the temp recommendations, or if I can justify a request from my institution for a colder freezer and/or anoxic treatment. Thank you! Wendi [cid:[email protected]] WENDI FIELD MURRAY, PHD COLLECTIONS MANAGER/REPATRIATION COORDINATOR, Archaeology & Anthropology Collection COLLECTIONS MANAGER, East Asian Art & Archival Collection Wesleyan University | Olin Library Exley Science Center, 301 | Middletown, CT 06459 P. 860 685-2085 pronouns: she/her/hers -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/BL0PR04MB4594937F63AB0A8A12471040C8BD2%40BL0PR04MB4594.namprd04.prod.outlook.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/BL0PR04MB4594937F63AB0A8A12471040C8BD2%40BL0PR04MB4594.namprd04.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/CH3PR20MB7304458FAD35DF4B296CDAD0DCBD2%40CH3PR20MB7304.namprd20.prod.outlook.com.
