Question about cleaning methods for iron artifacts

I was using a wire brush on some iron nails from a dig in Virginia, and a conservator from the Smithsonian told me I was basically scrubbing away the history. She said to switch to a soft bristle brush and distilled water, and to never use anything abrasive. I tried it on a nail from the 1700s and the surface detail is way clearer now. Has anyone else had to completely change their cleaning process after getting called out?

2 comments

2 Comments

tarahart5h ago

Scrubbing away the history" is such a perfect way to put it... I was probably erasing whole dates with my steel wool.

the_mary1h ago

Yeah, "erasing whole dates" hits hard. I used to clean everything spotless without a second thought. Now I see a scratch on the counter and wonder about the meal that made it, or a mark on the floor and think about the person who dropped something. It's not dirt anymore, it's proof someone lived here.