Cleaning slides and transparencies
The first transparencies were developed in 1917, with colour versions appearing in the mid-1930s. Family archives often date back to the 1950s and 1960s, and that's an awful lot of time to have accumulated dirt and damage. Once scanned, tiny flecks of dust and dirt are magnified and appear more obvious in the digital image. In this article, we consider how best to remove dirt from your slides, before starting the digitisation process.
Before you start the process, here are our recommended tools for the job:
- Alcohol-based cleaning fluid (e.g. Isopropanol or isopropyl alcohol)
- Cotton buds or pads
- A can of compressed air
Start by removing any dry dust from the transparency with a quick blast of the compressed air on both sides.
Then, dip the cotton bud or pad in a small quantity of the alcohol-based cleaning fluid and very gently rub both sides of the transparency. We recommend using a new bud or pad for each side (or, if particularly dirty, after any dirt appears on the pad) to avoid any captured dirt scratching the surface.
Remember, never use water-based cleaning fluids on your transparencies as water will damage your slides.
Finally, dry the slide and remove any residual cleaning material with another quick blast of the canned air.
Stubborn dirt will possibly remain on your slides. In a later article, we'll explore options to tackle any residual dirt once your slides have been digitised.