My.View
Newbie
I want to clean some UV and Skylight filters. I heard that the way should be with water and neutral soap. I thought a little strange to clean based on water, anyway, I used it. I left all the filters "taking sun", so I can get them "very" dry. I got some dirties from dried water and I can't clean them. Seems I made some mistakes. Later, I used a solution to clean eyes glasses lenses, wich didn't work exactly the way I wanted. Here is my question, wich is the best way to clean up filters?
If not having specific lens cleaning kit, wich will be the best option and method?
If not having specific lens cleaning kit, wich will be the best option and method?
murrayatuptown
Established
The only filters I have that actually needed cleaning were filthy and in some cases delaminating/bubbling, so I figured water wouldn't make them any worse.
I figure if they were clean I'd treat them like optics and only clean if absolutely necessary.
In my case there was no choice. They were foggy from likely outgassing in leather and plastic holders, and maybe some mildew thrown in to boot.
I used dish soap and water once, non-lotion bar soap another and antibacterial soap another, rinsed in hot water and dried with a cotton towel.
Long term, I don't know if there will be any ill effects, but most look noce or reveal what was wrong under the dirt.
Above were all old Series V and VI types, I think a gel between two pieces of glass. I did have concern about moisture egress between layers, but any other lens cleaner is liquid too, and I figured the least abrasive method was preferable.
I would advise avoiding paper towels. Paper is considered abrasive. I used to work at a newspaper, and the rolls of newsprint would cut grooves passing over in steel printing press parts over time.
Oh, FYI, an acrylic box maker told me that the purple galss cleaner Sparkle actually contains some component that is abrasive...I don't know what, however, or if it's true. It's certainly ok for windows & mirrors.
Murray
I figure if they were clean I'd treat them like optics and only clean if absolutely necessary.
In my case there was no choice. They were foggy from likely outgassing in leather and plastic holders, and maybe some mildew thrown in to boot.
I used dish soap and water once, non-lotion bar soap another and antibacterial soap another, rinsed in hot water and dried with a cotton towel.
Long term, I don't know if there will be any ill effects, but most look noce or reveal what was wrong under the dirt.
Above were all old Series V and VI types, I think a gel between two pieces of glass. I did have concern about moisture egress between layers, but any other lens cleaner is liquid too, and I figured the least abrasive method was preferable.
I would advise avoiding paper towels. Paper is considered abrasive. I used to work at a newspaper, and the rolls of newsprint would cut grooves passing over in steel printing press parts over time.
Oh, FYI, an acrylic box maker told me that the purple galss cleaner Sparkle actually contains some component that is abrasive...I don't know what, however, or if it's true. It's certainly ok for windows & mirrors.
Murray
peter_n
Veteran
I use Ivory liquid soap and water to clean really dirty used filters I have bought. I use hot water and soap the filters with my fingers, rinse off the soap with more hot water then dry the filter with a clean microfibre cloth.
Then I place the filter in a toaster oven and warm it ever so slightly on and off for about 1/2 an hour. Seems to work a treat!
Then I place the filter in a toaster oven and warm it ever so slightly on and off for about 1/2 an hour. Seems to work a treat!