A simple but effective cleaning method was developed at the Canadian Conservation Institute to remove considerable amounts of grime from a plume of feathers - part of a military dress uniform hat. As it was not possible to dismantle the plume, the initial cleaning method was the application of a detergent solution with a brush to each feather. A considerable amount of dust was removed but it was not enough. The method developed consists of placing each feather on a slightly curved trough held in a vice attached to a ball joint; the supported feather is sprayed from top to bottom and from the rachis along the length of the barbs with a solution of less than 1% synperonic and about 5% ethanol in water is sprayed over the feather. The feather is dried with blotting paper and final drying done with a warm stream of air. A figure illustrates the process.