The compressed air should be free of moisture and rated at 60 PSI or below. You could also turn your blow dryer to the cold air setting and use it to blow debris from your 35mm slides. [3] X Research source In rare cases where the debris coating the slide is particularly tenacious, use a soft, clean brush (a paintbrush, for instance) to dust the surface.
After using the liquid film cleaner, you might need to blow the slide off using compressed photographic gas. Some liquid film cleaners dry instantly, while others need to be wiped away. Never use a water-based cleaner or water to clean your 35mm slides.
Cardboard-backed slides will require more time, as you’ll have to use a razor blade to slit the cardboard open along the top or bottom edges, guessing roughly where the edge of the slide is. Since this method carries with it a risk of slicing into the slide itself, cut small strips off the cardboard so as to avoid cutting the slide itself. [7] X Research source
Isopropyl alcohol can also be used to wipe away fungal growth that may have developed on the interior or exterior of slide mount glass.
If you have a particular slide or set of slides that get handled regularly, undertake a digitization project or create duplicates so that the originals can be stored safely, thereby limiting the length of time they are handled and extending their useful life.
If you’re working in a museum or archival setting, you should invest in polarized sheeting for windows that are in the viewing room. Avoid fluorescent lights in the viewing space. This type of lighting is especially hard on slides and negatives.
Most stable office environments with a temperature of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) and 50-60% relative humidity are appropriate for storing slide collections. However, if you have the resources, you could invest in a humidity-controlled cold storage unit. Such units are especially useful for slides that are part of museum or archival collections which require indefinite retention.
