Cleaning...

[C.Watson]

Just an observation, but when Im looking at the majority of collection posts and even items in the estand - why are people afraid to dust? Seriously, it makes the display look sickening with an inch of dust on everything. Shows zero pride in what you own and basically is downright lazy. Sorry, but I have to rant on the subject when people post pictures and are to ignorant to even pull out a rag and run it over things and clean the creases out of an item.

About the estand - no one wants something that was sitting in a spider ridden attic or mouse ridden garage for half of its life and wasnt even minimally cleaned.

[bobcam1]

Agreed! Cleaning off patina is one thing, but leaving surface dust and dirt that accumulates from just lying around is another.

Too many collectors are swept up in that "...well, it's part of the history, and it shouldn't be cleaned off..." nonsense. They believe that allowing the item to collect dust and grime makes it better, and gives it that "been there" look. In MY opinion, it's only "been there" in the hands of someone who doesn't care for it properly.

You can make an item presentable and attractive to a potential buyer, or even someone who just wants to look at photos of it, by hitting it with compressed air, or even a soft cloth, without damaging the "history".

I fully agree that much of this "history" is a product of laziness, when it comes to maintenance. Since we're only the current custodians of these things, we owe it to ourselves as well as the future custodians, to take better care of them.

Just my

[Trance_Eyes]

I guess I'm lucky in that regard, all my stuff has to packed and boxed so at least when I bring it out it looks a treat!!

[STEBALIN]

Agreed! Cleaning off patina is one thing, but leaving surface dust and dirt that accumulates from just lying around is another.

I agree with you Bob. I would not try to clean a dirty ribbonof a medal that´s been dirty because of combat action or because of the owner, but I´d try to keep it only with that dirt that gives the "been there" feeling. But dust...

I´m planning to put my caps inside glass shelves, but I don´t know how to keep uniforms clean if I display them in mannequins, unless I remove dust thoroughly every day from them.