Cleaning dirty fingerprints/smudges from prints

Information on shipping, storing and repairing your art, plus your reviews on products for art collecting, making, storing, etc..
aeonpulse
Art Enthusiast
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:46 pm

Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:11 pm

Hey everyone,

First of all, I'm an idiot. A while ago, I decided to transport all of my prints out of their cheap-o frames and into a big storage portfolio. Between removing the prints from the frames, and sliding them into their acid-free sleeves, I didn't notice that dirt was starting to build up on my fingertips. After getting all 20-something of my prints in the portfolio, I flipped through them all and noticed that two of them had pretty noticable dirt smudges near the very bottom, no doubt from my dirty fingers.

So, does anyone have any tips or advice on how to clean these dirt smudges off? I've searched the forum for similar posts, and saw that someone suggested trying a Pilot eraser. Does anyone have any additional methods I could try? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much!
willg
Art Expert
Posts: 4313
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:00 am
Location: Chucktown

Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:40 pm

Works like a champ.
User avatar
KSUvet
Art Expert
Posts: 4944
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:37 am
Location: MO

Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:56 pm

"I see dudes using cotton gloves on prints that I know were printed while someone was drinking a beer or eating Cheetos, while water leaked from the ceiling. And I'm not even talking about my shop!" - alexfugazi
User avatar
tenaciousjack
Art Expert
Posts: 2884
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:06 pm

Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:30 am

What would you recommend to get what looks like a pencil smudge off a white border of a print?
User avatar
earlgreytoast
Art Expert
Posts: 9366
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 1:14 pm

Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:42 am

tenaciousjack wrote:What would you recommend to get what looks like a pencil smudge off a white border of a print?
Hmmm, how to get pencil off of a piece of paper... :?

I think you're overthinking this one! :P
Codeblue wrote: I’m sorry for everything.
User avatar
tenaciousjack
Art Expert
Posts: 2884
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:06 pm

Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:56 am

Can never be too safe!
User avatar
sidewaysscott
Art God
Posts: 23713
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:22 am
Location: denver

Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:58 am

This works wonders! I highly recommend.
pay via paypal, use credit card,file dispute at the 20 day mark if suspicious. don't deal with noobs. don't trade with noobs. request feedback ahead of time. there are lots of good people 'round here.
User avatar
Rick_a_c
Art Expert
Posts: 9603
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:46 pm
Location: Atlanta, Ga

Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:01 am

Thanks, scottie. I need to pick up a couple of those for emergencies.
I always defer to someone who's wearing a beater, regardless of what else he's wearing.
User avatar
sidewaysscott
Art God
Posts: 23713
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:22 am
Location: denver

Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:05 am

I bet you could find it cheaper on amazon. :wink:
pay via paypal, use credit card,file dispute at the 20 day mark if suspicious. don't deal with noobs. don't trade with noobs. request feedback ahead of time. there are lots of good people 'round here.
willg
Art Expert
Posts: 4313
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:00 am
Location: Chucktown

Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:08 am

sidewaysscott wrote:
This works wonders! I highly recommend.

I visited a paper restoration site a couple years ago and bought the following 4 products to remove various types of stains or marks. I have to say the one that has worked the best is the standard eraser. It's non abrasive to the paper and leaves no trace. If you worried about it try it on a small area on the back and see if you notice any change in the appearance of the paper.

Image
User avatar
tenaciousjack
Art Expert
Posts: 2884
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:06 pm

Sat Aug 11, 2012 2:31 pm

So it turns out it isn't a pencil smudge, rather it seems like a metallic or potentially oil from a fingerprint. I used the mars plastic eraser and saw no improvement. Any advice?
aeonpulse
Art Enthusiast
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:46 pm

Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:25 pm

Thanks for the input everyone, I'll give some of these suggestions a shot!
User avatar
leary411
Art Expert
Posts: 1564
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:33 pm

Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:45 am

These worked well...Image Image




Image This not so much....
T.K.C.
willg
Art Expert
Posts: 4313
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:00 am
Location: Chucktown

Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:01 am

Yeah, I bought one of those cleaning pads and it was a waste of time in my experience.
User avatar
canuck
Art Freak
Posts: 11062
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:23 pm
Location: US of A

Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:47 am

I thought you were going to say all 20-something prints had smudge marks. :shock:
Image
Post Reply