Cleaning slides

[bobs4c]

Having just been to the Classic Motor Show it has inspired me to digitise some very old dusty 35mm slides of cars I used to own. Could someone please advise as to the best way to clean old slides without causing damage?

Bob

[tuscan30]

If the slides have plastic mounts - simply wash em in tepid water with a minute amount of liquid soap. Safe enough as you are only replicating the final stage of the E6 developing process.
If they have cardboard mounts then it'll need the attention of a cotton bud moistened with the same tepid soapy water, and a good deal of patience.
Air dry in a dust free atmosphere.

[bobs4c]

Thankyou tuscan30, I will try that

Bob

[doodah]

you need to be careful - water must be no warmer than 38 degrees otherwise it will soften the emulsion. you also need a wetting agent so they dry evenly. drying needs to dust free, obviously. the wetting agent contains formaldehyde which helps protect it from bacteria.

[andybuk99]

just use a low dilution of washing up liquid for the wetting agent, one of the old tricks i was told about on a q-lab course