Cleaning old photographs?

[gothi]

I've started sorting through a load of my mum's stuff and found a load of old photo's from my childhood. I'd like to scan them so I have a perminant digital copy but a lot of the photos are musty or have a stain on them, what's the best method to clean them? Is there any type of cloth in particular I should get and are there any safe cleaning chemicals or am I just better off with a tiny dab of water on the cloth to remove any stains?

[the ghost]

DO NOT CLEAN THEM AT ALL
scan them then do it in photo shop or another program you are used to clone stamp etc
but DO NOT USE ANYTING to clean them as you will have nothing to look at
even if you canot use photo shop at least you will have saved them
I bet if you scaned them and showed ful size pictures lots of people would clean them up for you

[Sam]

DO NOT CLEAN THEM AT ALL
scan them then do it in photo shop or another program you are used to clone stamp etc
but DO NOT USE ANYTING to clean them as you will have nothing to look at
even if you canot use photo shop at least you will have saved them
I bet if you scaned them and showed ful size pictures lots of people would clean them up for you

What he said! If you put water on them you'll ruin them.

[gothi]

Thanks for the advice, I assume that I'd be safe just wiping the dust off them with a soft cloth though?

[Boink!]

The ghost speaketh the truth.

[pkr]

Thanks for the advice, I assume that I'd be safe just wiping the dust off them with a soft cloth though?

Still too much risk of damage. Use an air blower to dislodge any dust that'll come away easily. Repair the rest in Photoshop.

[aerosoulz]

Can I throw in my two pence worth? It might sound like
an obvious piece of advice, but scan at a decent resolution -
you'd be surprised at what some people give me to clean /
print...