Solar Bagging: putting sunlight to work to eliminate insect infestations in mere hours
Source: Western Association of Art Conservators (WAAC)
WAAC Newsletter (May 2001) Volume 23 Number 2
Asolar bagging, developed by Tom Strang at the Canadian Conservation Institute, uses sunlight to produce the 130°-140° F temperatures lethal to insects. Artifacts are wrapped in cotton to buffer moisture fluctuation and sealed in black-plastic bags that prevent moisture loss, maximize interior temperatures, and screen out UV and visible light. The object packets are then exposed to the sun. Inside, temperatures may rise as much as 40° to 70° F above the outdoor environment; adult insects, eggs, and the stages in between are killed in a matter of hours, victims of fatal dehydration and enzymatic dysfunction.
