Dust poses a risk to objects on open display, spoiling their appearance and necessitating cleaning. Over time deposits become more difficult to remove, risking damage to vulnerable substrates. An understanding of the sources and distribution of dust is needed to determine housekeeping resources and optimum intervals for cleaning. Dust particles were collected and analysed in four historic properties with a range of access arrangements. Results indicated that coarse particles at floor level rarely rise above 30 cm. Most of the dust on surfaces between waist and shoulder height consisted of fibres from visitors' clothing. The rate of coverage halved with every 50-cm distance between visitors and objects. Human activity produced higher levels of dust, for example visitor routes with multiple turns, and proximity of staff and interpreters to objects. To reduce deposition, fragile objects can be positioned further from visitors or given traditional covers. Thanks to a grant from the Leverhulme Trust, the mechanisms that attach dust to surfaces are now being studied, together with staff and visitor perceptions of dustiness.

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A qualitative understanding of the particles in dust and their sources helps to identify ways to reduce the accumulation of dust within historic houses. Knowing the possible sources of dust helps to suggest preventive steps. Simple low-technology methods enable rapid identification of dust deposits and require little specialist equipment. Dust samples can be collected on sticky surfaces for examination with a hand lens or microscope. The size of particles and fibres, and amount of surface coverage, can be estimated roughly using a graticule or coverage chart. An atlas of common dust components aids identification of soil dust, soot, insects, plant fragments, hair, skin, paint/plaster, clothing fibres, paper, food and mould. A mixture of fine dust is resolvable into a range of particle and fibre types. Long exposures of sticky samplers, with an estimate of the area covered by dust, indicate the rate of deposition and suggest the cleaning frequency necessary to prevent negative visitor reactions. The atlas lists suppliers and sources of information

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