Removing fungus and crack like threads from negatives

[Richard1985]

Is there anything I can do to prevent the onset or progression of this?

I store all my single 35mm negatives in Hama storage sheets like the ones seen here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hama-Neg...9&hash=item46a604aee1:g:CG8AAOSwcQVdEvHq#rwid

 

[koraks]

Most important is storage conditions - low humidity and low to moderate temperature.

 

[Richard1985]

I store my film at -20°C. Could it be that the Hama sheets are causing problems?

 

[koraks]

I store my film at -20°C.

Unexposed film, or finished negatives? For ynexpised film this is OK; for finished negatives it's not necessary to freeze them of course.

Could it be that the Hama sheets are causing problems?

Only if they are stored under high humidity conditions.

Do you process this film yourself? If so, a processing defect is the most likely cause. Particularly reused fixer is notorious for throwing down tiny specs of dirt on the film in my experience.

 

[Richard1985]

These are old negatives, they haven't been recently processed or developed. I might try storing them in something else.

I don't know what the RH% is in my freezer. My 35mm slides on the other hand seem to be fine but they are stored in different materials (Print File pages).

 

[koraks]

There's no point in storing finished negative or slides in the freezer. Yes, theoretically it can make a difference in the long term, but I doubt it's overall advantageous if you take into account the risks associated with repeated freezing/thawing and condensation that are inevitable over the course of decades.
Note that museums etc. don't store negatives or slides at below-zero temperatures. They probably have good reason not to.

 

[Richard1985]

Very interesting koraks. I'll do some more research.

 

[MattKing]

Note that museums etc. don't store negatives or slides at below-zero temperatures. They probably have good reason not to.

Actually, they do.
Vancouver Archives' paper on the subject: http://www.cdncouncilarchives.ca/Storage_English.pdf

 

[Richard1985]

Has anyone had any success cleaning negatives using dish soap with distilled water?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Has anyone had any success cleaning negatives using dish soap with distilled water?

All soaps are bad for film. Look up to see what PE posted.

 

[Richard1985]

I've just cleaned some negatives and I have left them to hang in the bathroom at room temperature. Can anyone give me an estimate as to how long it will take for the film to dry?

Many thanks.

 

[koraks]

Usually around 2 hours, but it varies greatly with temperature.

 

[MattKing]

Usually around 2 hours, but it varies greatly with temperature.

And humidity!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I've just cleaned some negatives and I have left them to hang in the bathroom at room temperature. Can anyone give me an estimate as to how long it will take for the film to dry?

Many thanks.

If no one is around to use the shower, I leave it overnight.