help cleaning a negative

[federico_ciamei]

<p>I just got some developed rolls (120 and 135) from the lab. But there's an incredible amount of dust. I've never seen anything like this.<br>

Can I wash the negatives to clean them?<br>

thanks!<br>

Federico<br /><br /><br /><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5739/22951157282_2bf5ee36da_o.png" alt="" width="1231" height="708" /></p>

<p> </p>

[glen_h]

<p>If the dust is stuck on, if it got dusty while it was drying, that might be the only way. But it won't be easy, and still might not come off.</p>

<p>There is also 'film cleaner', a non-water based solvent for cleaning film.</p>

<p>You might also try a soft brush, like commonly used for dusting off lenses, and other camera parts.</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>If they are a professional lab, as opposed to some teenager running a 1-hour drugstore lab, bring them back to the lab, and demand that they make it right. Even a 1-hour lab owes you a refund and new film. Looks like it could also be retained silver from dead bleach.<br>

You cannot just wash color negatives in water, you <strong>must</strong> run them through a stabilizing bath after washing, or the dyes will fade away.</p>

[larrydressler]

<p>Looks more like contaminated chemicals. I would go with John's advice. first before I tried anything more drastic.</p>

[federico_ciamei]

<p>thank you very much, I will bring them back to the lab. I hope they can be fixed.</p>

[ciaran_mcmenemy]

<p>As John said, film must be stabilised as a last step, to preserve the dyes. If the lab isn't helpful then get hold of some C41 stabiliser. go to your bathroom, run the shower/hot tap to steam it up and then wash the film under the taps or the shower (not too hot though). Film swells when it's wet, and it's at this point that dust etc is a problem. As the film dries it will go back to normal, and dust etc will be trapped. It's like it gets absorbed...<br>

After washing it, leave it in a bowl (not a food bowl, though) of the stabiliser for minute, then let it dry. Stabiliser is basically water and formeldehyde gas, so don't go drinking it.</p>

[larrydressler]

<p>Lets not put the cart before the horse there Let the lab correct it if they can Stabiliser is not what it used to be too because Formaldehyde is not allowed these days. Yes it is used for embalming still and that is where I get it from a friend but most modern films of the color type are designed not to need it other than it is a photoflo with a lesser anti bacterial. </p>