Cleaning sticky marks from old prints

[Asha]

I am sifting through hundreds of old prints, many of which are over 50 years old and hold great sentimental value.

They are holding up well for their age ( minimal colour shifts etc) however a number of them have sticky remnants on them which I'm pretty sure can be easily removed, however before I dive in head first with a damp cloth and cause permanent damage, I'd like some advice as to the best method.

 

[excalibur2]

Could you copy them then use Photoshop? Of course you would have to do another print.

 

[Asha]

Could you copy them then use Photoshop? Of course you would have to do another print.

That's a last resort tbh Brian but it is an option.

I'd like to try clean the originals if at all possible though.

 

[excalibur2]

That's a last resort tbh Brian but it is an option.

I'd like to try clean the originals if at all possible though.

Well you could copy one for backup before cleaning and then try warm soapy water..something like fairly liquid.
If you had put this post up two weeks ago I could have tried soapy water on a print done about 1916...too late as I've thrown it away.

 

[Asha]

Well you could copy one for backup before cleaning and then try warm soapy water..something like fairly liquid.
If you had put this post up two weeks ago I could have tried soapy water on a print done about 1916...too late as I've thrown it away.

I can sort of experiment a bit as there are two ( sometimes three) copies of a handful of the prints so I have a back up with them already.

I was thinking a soft cloth ( microfiber?) soaked in a mild soap solution such as fairy liquid, well rung so just damp then gently rub the grime away from the surface of the print.

Perhaps that's pretty much the only option I have??...I dunno

 

[ChrisR]

Are the marks over the face of the print, Asha, or just the edges or corners? If the latter, might perhaps be glue from album fixings, which might be tough. Random dirt across the face perhaps more suitable for the dishwasher liquid approach...

Not the same, but I had some 6*9 colour slides made by my father from 1938-47, that had random bits of gunk on them. Folk suggested iso-propyl alcohol on a cotton but which I tried. There might have been some slight improvement, but it didn't shift the lumps. Old dirt can be pretty tough. Maybe give that a try on a duplicate, too? (Not sure if it would damage the print though, use at your own risk!)

 

[Asha]

Are the marks over the face of the print, Asha, or just the edges or corners? If the latter, might perhaps be glue from album fixings, which might be tough. Random dirt across the face perhaps more suitable for the dishwasher liquid approach...

Not the same, but I had some 6*9 colour slides made by my father from 1938-47, that had random bits of gunk on them. Folk suggested iso-propyl alcohol on a cotton but which I tried. There might have been some slight improvement, but it didn't shift the lumps. Old dirt can be pretty tough. Maybe give that a try on a duplicate, too? (Not sure if it would damage the print though, use at your own risk!)

The gunk / grme is everywhere! lol Years of being handled, stored, and used as coasters I think by the looks of some of them

I've come across a product called Pec 12 but I dunno if it's one of those gimics where a more simplistic approach of a damp cloth may be just, if not more efficient.


http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/produc...2-Photographic-Emulsion-Cleaner-(59ml)-Bottle

If there's a good product out there that actually does work then I'm happy to pay so as not to lose /ruin the imges, however I aint purchasing something that's no more effectve than elbow grease!

Perhaps someone has used Pec12 and can confirm wether it really is the bees knees for this kind of job

 

[testbloke]

Pec12 (aspects) is what we use in the lab. Don't rub too hard though

 

[Nod]

I can sort of experiment a bit as there are two ( sometimes three) copies of a handful of the prints so I have a back up with them already.

I was thinking a soft cloth ( microfiber?) soaked in a mild soap solution such as fairy liquid, well rung so just damp then gently rub the grime away from the surface of the print.

Perhaps that's pretty much the only option I have??...I dunno

Sounds like a plan, although I'd be tempted to start with plain water as a first option, as you suggest, starting with damp then working up to a bit wetter. Obviously, use one of the worst as a test for this and keep it as a sacrificial print for ever increasing scales of cleaning solution as necessary. Maybe some wetting solution (from memory, often a very mild detergent) would be a better solution than washing up liquid - the salt in many washing up liquids might affect the silver on the prints.

Good luck!

 

[Ladybird12345]

Basin of lukish warm water
small bit of washing liquid
put photos in and leave for a while
and gently with your finger tips remove gunk
put them back in another basin of clean solution
reapeat the process. Worked for me