Another Question For Photography Folk

[thesshhh]

What is best to use for cleaning old negative strips which have got dusty and/or damaged? I suspect most cleaning sprays or liquid would harm or destroy the old negatives....is that the case?

[10ClarionSt]

Is this another spam poster?

[Zacs-Master]

No, clarion.

Make sure your work area is clean and well ventilated.
Use Isopropyl alcohol that's 98% or more.
Use lint-free cloth or cotton swabs.
Handle your negatives with lint-free gloves.
Don't dip the negative film in the alcohol.
Dab a little alcohol on the cloth or swab.
Don't saturate the cloth or swab.

You can only repair damage by editing the photo, not the negative.

[HansUrbancka]

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Negatives

Hans.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks Zacs. I have loads an loads of negatives stored in negative files and folders. I was very careful with them. For the uninitiated, I believe that Isopropyl Alcohol goes by the more well known name of methylated spirits, available in most hardware shops. If handled with care, as advised, your negatives should be fine and ready for use.

[bhg481]

Zacs - what are your thoughts on washing the negatives in clean water? It's 50 years since I did any developing but the last process is washing, possibly with wetting agent in the water, so water cannot harm the negs.

[10ClarionSt]

Photos can be printed from damaged negatives but companies wont do it. You have to be printing your own photos, as follows: Lay your negative between two pieces of glass which have been smeared with liquid parafin. The fluid will fill the damaged areas and take out any scratches when printing.

[TonyV]

Bhg I would start with Luke warm water with a little washing up liquid which will work as "wetting" agent.

[Zacs-Master]

bhg, depends how valuable the negs are but, yes, you could try very mild soapy water.

Clarion, indeed, that technique is good for scratches but anything more would need editing software. A small independent photography shop will gladly print damaged negatives if you admit you’re not expecting perfect results.

[bhg481]

I think dishwasher rinse-aid would be better than washing-up liquid or soap - it's designed to prevent drying marks, so should be ideal. I'm not interested in doing it myself; I was just suggesting an easy-to-try option for thesshhh and wondered if anybody who knew what they were talking about could find a flaw in it.