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Mark Burley
17th May 2009, 10:42 PM
I regularly wash my dev trays etc. But they never come back super clean...

Any one suggest any cleaning agents that will do the job - without killing the environment? As we are on private drainage etc.

Thanks - Mark

Daud
18th May 2009, 05:52 PM
Mark,
I use a weak 'Clorox' bleach Not sure it is available in UK, laundry bleach may do.
Fill the tray with water and pour an egg cup full in – stir and leave over night.
Nice and clean; rinse with hot water after and they are as good as new.
No more environmentally hazardous than the weeks laundry.
David.

alfie
18th May 2009, 07:12 PM
I put all my trays, film tanks and spirals through the dishwasher every now and again, works a treat. Thinking about it, if it won't wash off chances are it won't affect the process either.

Richard Gould
18th May 2009, 09:04 PM
I find that a small amount of household bleach works a treat,Richard

Les McLean
18th May 2009, 10:26 PM
You might try rinsing them is old but not exhausted fixer once you have washed them, especially the developer tray. Obviously you need to give them another rinse in fresh waater after the fixer treatment. Apparently this is supposed to prevent the silver that may still be present from going black again when you start to use the tray again.

Mark Burley
18th May 2009, 11:02 PM
Thanks for the hints guys - one will try them all, thank you.

Mark Burley
18th May 2009, 11:08 PM
One other thing - a Silverprint manual I have been lent recommends a 5% solution of Hydrocloric acid or for extreme cases Potassium Dicromate/water/Conc. Sulphuric acid. Not being that good a chemist I wondered just how awkward these chemicals would be to handle for a novice like me?

Dave miller
19th May 2009, 05:40 AM
One other thing - a Silverprint manual I have been lent recommends a 5% solution of Hydrocloric acid or for extreme cases Potassium Dicromate/water/Conc. Sulphuric acid. Not being that good a chemist I wondered just how awkward these chemicals would be to handle for a novice like me?

I would rather put up with dirty trays. :)

Fintan
19th May 2009, 10:25 AM
Silverprint have some magic cleaner if you have £12.91 to spare.

'Foams as it clings as it cleans' it says........ :D

RH Designs
19th May 2009, 10:39 AM
I'm past worrying about "dirty" trays. Like Alfie says if it doesn't come off with a bit of bleach I reckon it's not going to come off in the developer either, and I've certainly never noticed any problems with contamination.

Miha
19th May 2009, 12:05 PM
I would rather put up with dirty trays. :)

Me too! Hot water will do for me.

Niall Bell
19th May 2009, 12:17 PM
One other thing - a Silverprint manual I have been lent recommends a 5% solution of Hydrocloric acid or for extreme cases Potassium Dicromate/water/Conc. Sulphuric acid. Not being that good a chemist I wondered just how awkward these chemicals would be to handle for a novice like me?

Not recommended for home use is my own opinion. Even diluted sulphuric acid can be dangerous, and some knowledge is required for mixing these acids with water.

Niall

Fintan
19th May 2009, 01:12 PM
I'm probably insane but I think blackend trays are a badge of honour. Respect to all you guys with the filthiest blackest trays.

Neil Smith
19th May 2009, 02:35 PM
I don,t remember reading anywhere about adverse effects from dirty trays (stained), or hearing anybody mention it as a problem. As long as the trays are washed clean of residual chemicals after use I wouldn't worry.

Dave miller
19th May 2009, 03:19 PM
I'm probably insane but I think blackend trays are a badge of honour. Respect to all you guys with the filthiest blackest trays.

I have a nice two-toned tray. It's sort of white around the rim, and runs through various shades of grey towards the base where it is rather dark. Actually it's very dark. ;)

Rob Archer
19th May 2009, 05:11 PM
I second the fixer followed by the dishwasher. It works for me. It doesn't leave your trays looking like a 1950s washing machnine ad, but I'm confident they're cleaner then before I started and I won't have problems with cross-contamination.

Like he said - black trays are a badge of honour!

Rob

alfie
19th May 2009, 05:23 PM
Sulphuric/dichromate is silver bleach, it will remove the dark stuff. Or Farmers reducer will do, can't remember if you need to fix either afterwards.

photomi7ch
19th May 2009, 05:43 PM
A week solution of bleach left to stand has all ways worked for me.

I used to work with sulpuric acid on a daily bases its like syrup( but not as sweet) and has a bad temper no matter how careful you are. :wag: I would sick to bleach

PaulG
19th May 2009, 06:06 PM
I used to work with sulpuric acid on a daily bases its like syrup( but not as sweet) and has a bad temper no matter how careful you are. :wag: I would sick to bleach

Agreed. Conc sulphuric acid is not nice. Just adding water to it (rather than it to water) can make for big problems. Mixed with potassium dichromate it makes chromic acid (and an awful lot of heat) which will clean almost anything that it doesn't burn a hole in. I believe it is now banned (the chromic acid that is). I used to use it back in my lab days and making it up was one of the scariest things I had to do. Not pleasant stuff, but it cleaned my glassware up a treat! :D

Richard Gould
19th May 2009, 09:28 PM
I hav'nt got my trays squeky clean for years, can't see what's wrong with black, as long as the trays are washed clear of chemical residues,a rinse with a hose after each session works, and I have seen any ill efects, Richard

photomi7ch
20th May 2009, 07:45 PM
A week solution of bleach left to stand has all ways worked for me.

I used to work with sulpuric acid on a daily bases its like syrup( but not as sweet) and has a bad temper no matter how careful you are. :wag: I would sick to bleach

Are but it get better used to mix it with peroxide :eek: so I could get everthing completely spotless, this realy got its dander up. :D

Mark Burley
20th May 2009, 10:08 PM
I guess I stick to mucky trays and be proud then. But the prints do seem to pick up the odd bit of gunge...

vincent
21st May 2009, 07:51 PM
Too late Mark I have just filled my dev. tray with hot water and household bleach. I too have got dirt marks on my borders when processing prints.
Cheers
vincent

Mike O'Pray
21st May 2009, 08:33 PM
Nova Darkroom does a cleaner( Nova Tarbuster) where the liquid is sprayed on. It was about £7/8 last time I looked. No idea if it is any better than household cleaners but you'd think so as it is sold by a company specialising in darkroom products.

I have what I think is a fibreglass sink bought from Nova. It's a Brown's sink. I use weak bleach overnight. This seems to work quite well but I suspect that eventually bleach will give a white sink/tray its own "patina" which is slightly off-white.

Mike

Martin Aislabie
21st May 2009, 08:47 PM
I use elbow grease and kitchen roll.

I find the black comes off better when its just a little damp.

The darkness that doesn't come off doesn't effect the prints and I don't worry about it any more.

I found some developers (Agfa Neatol WA) particularly bad for depositing grunge and yet others like MG Dev to be fairly clean working.

Martin