Ten ways to clean 35mm slides

Cleaning 35mm slides can be effectively managed in ten different ways.

First, use a microfiber cloth and gently wipe off dust or dirt. Secondly, compressed air is utilized to blow away any remaining particles. Thirdly, employ a slide-cleaning solution with a microfiber cloth. Fourthly, roll a lint roller to capture dust or dirt. Fifthly, brush the slides with a soft-bristled brush to eliminate dust or debris. Sixthly, a blower brush can expel dust or dirt from your 35mm slides. Seventhly, the slides are laid flat, and a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment is employed to eliminate dust or debris. Eighthly, immerse a microfiber cloth in distilled water and clean the slides of any dirt or grime. Ninthly, combine a bit of isopropyl alcohol with distilled water to remove grime from the slides. Lastly, a slide cleaning machine designed for 35mm slides can eliminate any dust or debris from the slides; these can be acquired through purchase or rental.

After your slides are cleaned, have ScanMyPhotos.com digitize all.

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Almost 90% of all 35mm slides ever developed still have the same issue: they have yet to be digitized. As a result, these slides are usually kept in carousels or boxes in the attic or basement, leaving them susceptible to dust, dirt, and other debris which could cause lasting damage to the slides if not handled properly. To guarantee the longevity of your photos, they need to be professionally scanned by a photo archival scanning company, like ScanMyPhotos.com.

Before scanning, make sure the slides are clean for the best quality scans. To do so, one must adhere to the following steps for moderately dirty 35mm slides with a significant amount of dust, dirt, or debris.

The hands-on approach involves obtaining a microfiber cloth, similar to the ones used to clean glass lenses, and wearing clean gloves to clean the slides by wiping off the debris in a gentle manner to avoid smudging. Using gloves ensures that the oils in your hands won’t ruin the emulsion layer of the slide, but the procedure can still be done without them as long as the slides are handled with care at the edges. It’s best to remove any cardboard or plastic mounting to prevent any dirt or dust from just being pushed to the edges.

An alternate approach that some may prefer due to the lower risk of leaving scratches on the film involves using compressed air to blow off larger pieces of debris.

A final method for cleaning 35mm slides involves using an alcohol-based film cleaner, cotton pads, and compressed air. Ensure the film cleaner has a neutral pH level and does not contain non-distilled tap water as it could damage your slides. Put the film cleaner on the cotton pad and carefully wipe down each slide, taking care not to over-saturate the cotton pad. Afterward, blow off any remaining cotton fibers with the compressed air and dry the remainder of the film cleaner.

Ten ways to clean 35mm slides

1. Use a microfiber cloth: Gently wipe the slides with a microfiber cloth to remove dust or debris. There is more at Amazon.
2. Use compressed air: Blow away any dust or debris from the slides with compressed air.
3. Use a slide-cleaning solution: Apply a small amount of slide-cleaning solution to a microfiber cloth and gently wipe the slides.
4. Use a lint roller: Roll a lint roller over the slides to remove any dust or debris.
5. Use a soft-bristled brush: Gently brush the slides with a soft-bristled brush to remove any dust or debris.
6. Use a blower brush: Use a blower brush to blow away any dust or debris from the slides.
7. Use a vacuum cleaner: Place the slides on a flat surface and use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove any dust or debris.
8. Use distilled water: Dip a microfiber cloth in distilled water and gently wipe the slides to remove any dirt or grime.
9. Use isopropyl alcohol: Mix a small amount of isopropyl alcohol with distilled water and use it to clean the slides.
10. Use a slide cleaning machine: Use a slide cleaning machine to clean and remove any dust or debris from the slides. These machines are designed specifically for cleaning 35mm slides and are available for purchase or rental.

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