I have been getting little bits of dust on my 35mm film. When I develop I hang it in the open as I don't have a drying cabinet. Are the film cleaning solutions I see at B&H and others ok to use to remove things like this.
The "dust" may be particles in the wash water. Try a final rinse in distilled water with a few drops of something like Kodak Photo-Flo. If the dust particles are airborn, try drying the film on the reels in an improvised dust free environment. Others have dried film in a bathroom where dust may be less a problem. A room blocked off from whole-house heating and air conditioning may have less of a dust problem.
The film cleaning solutions do help. Use them carefully to prevent scratching or other damage.
If I may add one note to the bathroom film drying idea. I run the shower for a few minutes on HOT to raise a bit of steam that settles any dust. Let the room cool and then dry your film.
A very nice film cleaner is available from techcheminc (techcheminc.com) It is $21.00 a quart. The PEC will cost $55 for this amount in most stores. The Techchemic comes in a plastic bottle. The PEC comes in a can that tends to rust. Either film cleaner can be used with PEC pads.
My darkroom is in a converted upstairs bedroom. I use a rinse aid, then hang my negatives in the closet, and close the closet door s.l.o.w.l.y. No problems.
I have been getting little bits of dust on my 35mm film. When I develop I hang it in the open as I don't have a drying cabinet. Are the film cleaning solutions I see at B&H and others ok to use to remove things like this.
My experience is that when dust and other contamination is allowed to dry onto the emulsion, they are permanent. You can't wash it off, you can't clean it off.
The key is to avoid it in the first place. Drying in a "dust free" environment as the others suggest is good. Using distilled water to mix your chemicals is good. Using a final rinse of photoflow or equivalent in distilled water is good.
You see where this is going: If you want clean film, you must have a clean process.
My experience is that when dust and other contamination is allowed to dry onto the emulsion, they are permanent. You can't wash it off, you can't clean it off.