[Rhonda Chadwick]

I am advising homeowners on the best way to care for photographic collections. I would like to know the best way to clean dirty photos, negatives and slides. Is it okay to use compressed air or cleaning solutions? Is it okay to wipe with a clean, soft, dry cloth?

Thank-you

[Rachel Lapkin]

Hi Rhonda,

This is a tricky one, as it always is with “conservation” advice. No matter how clear you think you are being something can always get lost in the translation from instruction to practice and before they know it homeowners/ non-conservation professionals have damaged their own collections. Photos and negatives are equally as tricky for non-photo specialists in the conservation field, because there are so many different development processes, substrates, etc. If anything, I would point to the NPS ConserveOGram http://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/14-04.pdf, and NEDCC’s preservation leaflet https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/5.-photographs/5.3-care-of-photographs to reinforce that it is dangerous to even embark on “cleaning” these items at home. If you follow guidelines then housing, storage, and handling are the most proactive and least risky preservation and conservation actions for these materials. I hope this helps- Rachel Lapkin

[Rhonda Chadwick]

Rachel;

Yes, that helps a lot. Thanks so much. So happy to have a response from my favorite conservator!

Rhonda

[krish]

thanks for the respond So happy to have a response from my favorite conservator! kerala sslc result 2016

[krish]

good nice group this …

[Author]

Posts