Ilford - xp2 - trouble with dust?

[peter16]

hello, I'm not sure if this should be here or on the color forum.

Do any Xp2 users have experience re-washing negs with distilled water and foto flo to get rid of stubborn dust? I have done this with traditional B&W film before - sometimes gently using a cotten swab soaked in the solution to rub - but I have never tried this with a C-41 neg.

I am experiencing dust issues with 35mm Xp2 film and a new to me Focatar 1c enlarger. I believe the dust is on the film but I also need to try more thoroughly cleaning the condenser head and also try getting new contrast filters...(the filters are in a drawer above the negative stage.

 

[ic-racer]

Use dedicated negative cleaner that won't soften the emulsion and make things worse. If the dust was embedded in the emulsion while drying then my experience is that it won't all come clean.
Take more care with the negatives. That one looks like it was dropped on the ground when wet.