Cleaning Cardback Advice

[scottie_boy]

Having seen Joe's thread on removing/cleaning ink touch ups, I was hoping for some advice on cleaning vintage carded figure cards & bubbles.

I have a small number of carded figures from storage that are either dusty or a little dirty, but don't want to damage the cardstock or bubbles as in otherwise good condition, so the question is wet or dry?

Liquids
Any recommendations? (Goo gone as per Joe's thread, or for use in moderation only?)

Know anything that you wouldn't recommend, ie has interacted with the card or bubble causing damage or discolouration?

Dry
Just worried that if too firm with a duster or cloth, the surface particles will act as an abbrasive & damage the card, or that any sticker residue will attract the cloth fibres & look worse!

Air? Will those compressed air cans for cleaning keyboards get the job done?

I've seen some forum advice to use a soft make up brush, but wasn't sure if that was advice for cleaning the cardbacks!

Any help always appreciated

 

[Joe]

I've used a variety of things on cards, baby wipes, dust polish, dry dust cloths, tiny bit of water on a cloth..

While I haven't seen any ill effects of any of these over the last 5 years or so I would suggest using a dry cloth first if you are worried about damage to the card, someone on RS said that baby wipes will damage the cards but like I said I haven't seen any damage occur from using them to gently wipe away grime and dust from a card (Especially a glossy card)

People use goo gone/lighter fluid/polish to get stickers off of cards and no problem so far (some of those methods have been used since the 90's) I think the cards are actually pretty hard wearing so I wouldn't worry too much.

What is worrying is the amount of crap you can pick up when you clean MOC :shock:

 

[tiefighterboy]

Furniture polish will bring back the sheen to a dirty dull card back and boxes too. It will not damage them as long as you do not empty the whole can on them.

 

[tigerham]

So Joe what would you recommend for removing sticker residue?

 

[tiefighterboy]

I have used Goo-Gone for years..works everytime.

 

[Princess Leia Organa]

Furniture polish will bring back the sheen to a dirty dull card back and boxes too. It will not damage them as long as you do not empty the whole can on them.

Furniture polish looks good To start with but will leave a sticky reduce over time and damage the card it has oil in it and will start damaging the flat card and it will start to peal . you are far better off using a soft cotton cloth with just a hint of water and buff dry.