Removing Dirt.....

[bobcam1]

I have a couple of decorations that have dirt (not patina) along the edges of frames, etc.
What's a safe way to remove encrusted dirt that's caked in frames on multipart medals like EK's, etc.

This is not soil, but the accumulated dirt that comes from wear.....Medals being touched with dirt or food on the fingers....stuff being spilled on them, etc.

In a few cases, I'm sure the "stuff" has been there for decades, and I want to maintain the patina, but just remove foreign substances. I obviously don't want to scrub them, or use cleaning agents (unless some are recommended as safe) but is there a way to soak them to loosen soil, so that I may them gently clean it away?
I'd appreciate any of the conservation and cleaning experts to weigh in on this.....( Paul R and Stalhelm, are you listening?....)

Thanks,
Bob.

[Horrido!]

A soft bristle toothbrush with a little dish soap and warm water always does the trick for me. Trap some water in the sink, add a little dish soap and swish around, dip the toothbrush in it and gently work the toothbrush back and forth. When done removing the dirt, rinse the badge thoroughly and then pat dry with a towel. Set the badge aside to air dry and make sure ALL the water is gone. That is a crucial point.....make sure all the water is gone from the surface. Afterward, coat the badge in a little Renaissance Wax and enjoy. Hope this helps. There might be some other ways out there, but this is my tried and true method. Cheers,

Alex

[Paul R.]

Hi Bob- First of all I would not put the EK into water either with soap or not. It is hard to remove all traces of water/moisture away from the iron core. I have seeing water seep in to areas that you don't even think of. Do not use any heat/hair dryer to get rid of the water. Could soften up the black.
I would pick up several toothbrushs (med. soft brissle) gently work the dirt with the brush. CAREFULL not to push to hard. Let the brush do some of the work. If you want to use a TINY bit of lubricant use ren wax. Place a small amout on a Q tip, or an old brush and use that to wipe away any grime. If you need a bit of warmth when cleaning the medal while using the renwax(might be a bit tacky) Clean the medal in direct sunlight. After you are done apply ren wax. Remember with ren wax. A little goes a long way. If you can post before and after photos. Paul

[SCHUPO]

Bob,

I use a dry, soft toothbrush as well. Water and solvents can cause unexpected problems. Besides, you can always get more agressive later if you decide to but you can't undo overcleaning.

[Ralph P]

Hey George and Paul - Thank you very much for the useful information for the greater collecting community...

[Richard]

You can also use a soft toothpick to remove grime from crevices.
Richard V