Surface cleaning for chrome cards

rustywest · 05-10-2019, 02:29 AM

Seems like a good time to bring this up.

I've got some cards with the chromy finish, specifically 93/94, 94/95 Finest & 97/98 Bowman's Best that came fresh from packs with a grime on the surface. Its hard to describe, but like a waxy, greasy slime. People familiar with opening this type of product will know what I mean. When you put them in sleeves they stick and then if you remove, the residue coats the sleeve and said sleeve is bin worthy.

The question is should I clean the surface or not? And if so, what is the optimal cloth for the job on this type of chrome card so there are no scratches left on the surface - that thick micro-fibre style cloth or that thin type of cloth you clean eye glasses with? Any experiences and thoughts are very much appreciated...

Archangel1775 · 05-10-2019, 04:42 AM

There is some.cleaner out there that people use.

Lee42 · 05-10-2019, 05:15 AM

You looking to "Conserve" your cards?

Jasondr91 · 05-10-2019, 05:29 AM

Micro fiber and/or a jewelers cloth will remove the fingerprints.

Bigbluesooner · 05-10-2019, 05:43 AM

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1202631

dictoresno seems to have a good handle on this.

rustywest · 05-10-2019, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

There is some.cleaner out there that people use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee42

You looking to "Conserve" your cards?

I wasn't looking at applying some type of foreign substance, just the best type of cloth to wipe off the slime without hurting the surface in any way. PWCC and its pillars of society/tenets of the community/collector's manifesto, whatever it is they call this upcoming PR release - my anticipation level is zero.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasondr91

Micro fiber and/or a jewelers cloth will remove the fingerprints.

Thanks for the advice. I did pick up some micro-fibre cloth the other day but also wondered if that thin eye glass cloth would be better. Is a jewelers cloth kinda furry or is it smooth? Might have to check it out then I can trial and error on some base.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbluesooner

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1202631

dictoresno seems to have a good handle on this.

Interesting thread, I'm not looking to remove scratches just this waxy slime. I'm not sure how I feel about applying a substance to a card. I'm leaning toward no-go. That's where it begins to feel like dubious/contentious territory...

ninjabum87 · 05-10-2019, 09:34 AM

Never used glasses cloths but I feel like they might be more wieldly than a microfiber since those are thicker.

Also keep in mind with microfiber that if you ever decide to wash it and dry it in a dryer that the fibers can and do lose their softness if you use too much heat and/or fabric softener (counter intuitive I know) and can start leaving fine scratches at least on clearcoats on vehicles in my experience. I'd assume cards are much more susceptible to these so take care.

05-10-2019, 02:29 AM	#1
rustywest Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 2,692	Surface cleaning for chrome cards Seems like a good time to bring this up. I've got some cards with the chromy finish, specifically 93/94, 94/95 Finest & 97/98 Bowman's Best that came fresh from packs with a grime on the surface. Its hard to describe, but like a waxy, greasy slime. People familiar with opening this type of product will know what I mean. When you put them in sleeves they stick and then if you remove, the residue coats the sleeve and said sleeve is bin worthy. The question is should I clean the surface or not? And if so, what is the optimal cloth for the job on this type of chrome card so there are no scratches left on the surface - that thick micro-fibre style cloth or that thin type of cloth you clean eye glasses with? Any experiences and thoughts are very much appreciated...

05-10-2019, 04:42 AM	#2
Archangel1775 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cali baby! Posts: 21,892	There is some.cleaner out there that people use. __________________ *There are the intangibles that set someone apart from the pack.So the blur isn't your inability to see his greatness, it's merely the inability to measure it.*

05-10-2019, 05:29 AM	#4
Jasondr91 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Behind the Pokemon cards at WalMart Posts: 4,549 Jasondr91	Micro fiber and/or a jewelers cloth will remove the fingerprints. __________________ Still collecting certain Aleksandaя "Sasha" Pavlovic items since 2004. "The United States has become a place where professional athletes and entertainers are mistaken for people of importance." - Robert Heinlein

05-10-2019, 05:43 AM	#5
Bigbluesooner Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 947	https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1202631 dictoresno seems to have a good handle on this. __________________ Looking for Canaan Smith 2017 Bowman Draft Red Refractor and Red Paper

05-10-2019, 05:15 AM	#3
Lee42 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,293	You looking to "Conserve" your cards?

05-10-2019, 09:34 AM	#7
ninjabum87 Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 2,278	Never used glasses cloths but I feel like they might be more wieldly than a microfiber since those are thicker. Also keep in mind with microfiber that if you ever decide to wash it and dry it in a dryer that the fibers can and do lose their softness if you use too much heat and/or fabric softener (counter intuitive I know) and can start leaving fine scratches at least on clearcoats on vehicles in my experience. I'd assume cards are much more susceptible to these so take care.