How to Clean Card Surfaces?
General forum
Posted on June 24, 2014, 4:01 p.m. by JakeHarlow
Hey all,
As some of you may have seen me mention, I am neurotically meticulous about card condition. If it's not NM-M, I don't wanna play it, much less own it.
I've been ordering some singles lately from various vendors, including StarCityGames and ABU Games, and even though I only order NM/M items, I receive cards that are cloudy and dirty. The corners and edges are nice, but even a cursory inspection of the surface of some of these "NM-M" cards reveals dirt and clouding. This seems to be even more common for foils, and it also seems to be more likely to show up on older cards. Ordered a foil set of Time Spiral lands and almost all of them had this issue.
My question is, do you folks ever come across this issue? Is there a way to safely clean card surfaces without damaging them and without leaving streaks? How do you guys deal with this?
Thanks in advance!
Gidgetimer says... #3
In case you didn't understand from the "kukuku", don't do that it takes the ink off.
I am unsure of any way to remove what I am assuming is just oil deposits from skin and dust sticking to those deposits but I thought I should warn against acetone in case it went over your head that he was trolling.
June 24, 2014 5:21 p.m.
Acetone on foils will wipe the ink off the card, leaving only the foil behind - just one step for the process of making foil proxies.
June 24, 2014 5:24 p.m.
KSULongneck says... #5
There is no safe way to clean and restore a card on your own. The best thing to do is just leave it alone unless you have access to a professional paper conservator.
June 24, 2014 5:28 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #6
It appears from multiple sources I have seen that it is possible to clean them with just light preasure on a lint-free nonscratch rag and VERY little water. I would try it out on a basic land or something first though if I were you.
June 24, 2014 5:36 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #7
Yeah, I've read about people doing that too. I've noticed that some people online mentioned using a very damp Q-Tip and then gently wiping the moisture off. Honestly, I'm not sure I want to try anything. Those oils deposits do look bloody awful, though. It's unfortunately an all-too-common occurrence to see them on older cards, especially foils. Guess I need to keep buying examples listed as NM-M and hope I eventually get some in acceptable condition. I just returned over half an order from SCG because of this problem.
Kind of makes me mad. How did the original owners get their cards this dirty. Seems sloppy and thoughtless.
June 24, 2014 6:35 p.m.
Just lick the corner of a tissue like a mother and wipe the card gently.
No shit.
That's how I clean cards.
June 24, 2014 8:14 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #10
I see...What exactly does that remove? Is there some other cleaning solution that works without causing damage or streaks? I'd like to avoid smearing saliva on my expensive cardboard if at all possible, lol
June 24, 2014 8:28 p.m.
Water is obviously going to be the gentlest thing you can use. Just get a few drops of water on a tissue and wipe the surface. If you can see droplets on the face of the card, you've used too much water and you risk water damage.
June 24, 2014 8:32 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #12
Fair enough. These oil stains from dirt/hands are the worst. I simply do not understand people who refuse to invest in sleeves or observe card care. It is troubling.
June 24, 2014 9:10 p.m.
I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you Meddling Kids
June 24, 2014 9:11 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #16
InconspicuousPotato: Haha, I do whenever possible, bro! Now whenever I order from a big vendor like ABU or SCG, I leave a note for them to double-check the items to ensure they are NM-M and have a minimum of smudging, scratching, surface wear, etc.
If it's an individual vendor, I always request images. But unfortunately, no matter how meticulous one is, there is still a solid possibility that older cards have more wear. It could also be possible that my personal NM-M standards aren't in line with those of major vendors. But then I read this, and ask, how can that be? Clearly I'm in agreement with this.
angrychains: Have you tried benzene before? If so, what are your results?
June 24, 2014 10:15 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #17
Again I would only try this on a basic land first as I haven't personally tried it yet but there is always the possibility of using lamp oil on a Q-tip to try to remove oil buildup since oils are usually not water soluble.
June 24, 2014 10:31 p.m.
angrychains says... #18
dont use benzene--it causes cancer, but seriously a little drano or soap and water on a q-tip will do a lot to get rid of oil smudges.
June 24, 2014 10:46 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #19
Ah, ok. I'll try the Q-tip and water w/slight soap method on a test card. Thanks for the input, guys! I appreciate it.
June 24, 2014 10:50 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #20
I'm not sure i would use soap personally, it is likely to leave soap scum since you won't want to use enough water to thoroughly rinse the card, and i would figure drain cleaner would eat right through the card.
June 24, 2014 10:56 p.m.
angrychains says... #21
@Gidgetimer--soap scum shouldnt be a problem as long as he starts from the top of the card and goes to the bottom, followed by wiping it with a computer cloth/some none abrasive material. Also i've used drano to clean a card--its not concentrated enough to do any damage. but, yeah the best solution is to test it on a junk foil and see what works for him
June 24, 2014 11:01 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #22
Yeah, I'll try all these suggestions and report back with the different results. I have a few foil lands I ordered that came in sub-par condition, so they'll be my guinea pigs.
I always use a microfiber cloth to wipe cards. It's the type of cloth that is used for lenses and electronics; it's absolutely safe and is literally designed to wipe without abrasion--no scratches at all. Unfortunately, sterner measures must be taken when it comes to dirt and oil spots.
June 24, 2014 11:22 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #24
Fire is obviously the best option here. It's indiscriminate, and leaves virtually nothing behind.
June 25, 2014 12:23 a.m.
I would say that it tends to vary / depend on the specifics of the condition of the spot and the progression of / details of the damage. I have a little home remedy arsenal for cleaning in general and I follow a few little guidelines. Most of the stuff ... I'll give fair warning ... is kinda stinky ....
- Vinegar: Here is a true all-purpose natural cleaning agent. And boy does it ever reek. It tends to kill off bacteria, though - but use sparingly, a little goes a long way. Antibacterial stuff should kill off some bacteria as well, but sometimes resistance grows and things - one might work better than the other, you never know.
- Carmex: This is stinky stuff! It seals out/in water (and air) and things fairly well but is quite greasy itself. It might be worth considering as a coating after doing anything to the surface that could make it more vulnerable to further damage - but again, it smells like a "medicine cabinet"
- Toothpaste: This wonderful stuff draws out nasty stuff from the top layers of surfaces and can be peeled / rubbed off after it dries. Then you get a nice close-up of all that dirt nasty that you just sucked up with it. Again, a strong smelling agent, though different in nature. It also tends to dry things out and can be caustic / damaging. There are some surfaces that, if badly damaged, won't allow the peeling so that scraping it off causes further damage (but hey - it hurt the dirt worse than the card, we can hope ...)
Those three can work magic but watch how much you use and be vigilant about the damage it will do if you aren't really careful. I have a lot of damaged cards, but I stick with vigilant use of sleeves to keep it from getting worse at least.
Jay says... #2
Use acetone for foils.
(Kukuku)
June 24, 2014 4:52 p.m.