A method for treating a surface is disclosed. According to some aspects, the method includes ejecting matter from the surface by projecting an ejection agent on the surface. The ejection agent is selected from gases, fluids in supercritical state, solid materials in divided form, solid materials in a gas vector and electromagnetic radiation. The method includes trapping the ejected matter in one or several pieces of an aerogel situated on trajector of the ejected matter. A device for carrying out this method as well as the use of an aerogel to trap the matter ejected from a surface during a treatment of that surface are also disclosed. The method may be applied in fields including cleaning, satinizing, polishing, deburring, etching, marking, pre-adhesion surface preparation metallization enameling, painting or varnishing operations are done, in particular electronics, microelectronics, optics, optoelectronics, bijouterie, jewelry, and the restoration of art and antiques.