How to clean dirty negatives?

[maxspbr]

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Hello all.

 

I got the negatives from my parents' marriage (1962). My grandfather shot with Tri-X (and a Leica, of course! ) and made the enlargements. Since then they were stored in paper, in not so good conditions. A lot of dirt over them!

 

Anybody has a good way to clean these negatives?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Martin

[earleygallery]

I would suggest - assuming you can't clean them sufficiently with compressed air/blower brush, to soak them for a few minutes in clean water with wetting agent. Use your fingers as a squeegee if necessary to remove stuck on dirt, then rinse again and hang up to dry.

 

Presumably the negs are now cut into strips so it will be a longer process than dealing with a reel of film. Do them individually to avoid the risk of scratching the film.

[sjefjans]

Wouldn't there be a different approach for either side of the negative (carrier and 'sensitive' side)?

Of course I should have asked, but some time ago I found an old 6x6 negative from around 1950. There were thick white spots (like plaster) on the carrier side. The person who scanned the negative tried to remove them with some fluid. Most of it was gone, the rest was photoshopped. Therer was no damage from the cleaning.

[maxspbr]

Earley, Sjefjans

 

Thanks a lot!

 

In fact the washing alone, or the wetting agent didn't make great differences.

 

I tryed too to use a weak solution of sodium bicarbonate. And then the washing with wetting agent. Then I got a printable negative. Needing some retouching, of course.

 

Thanks again,

 

Martin