The conflicting problems generally encountered when carrying out desalination and cleaning either before or after consolidation, in particular those encountered in the treatment of salt-contaminated Egyptian limestone sculptures have resulted in a re-evaluation of the desalination technique used in the British Museum. A study of salt movements conducted on two pieces, one, a limestone figure of the Ptolemaic period, the other, a limestone panel from the tomb of Sri at Saqqara, show that salt-laden stone is not stabilized by consolidation with alkoxy silane alone. Salt movement can be prevented by putting the sculpture in a stable, dry environment at or below 40% RH. Health and safety precautions are indicated; acknowledgements and suppliers of materials listed.