To Clean or Not To Clean?

It seems that this discussion comes up quite a bit on the Chipboard and among chip collectors in general. It seems that there are an awful lot of people sitting on both sides of the fence on this topic.

Should dirty chips be cleaned or should they be left alone?

That is one of the few questions that I have discussed in my Tips Of the Day that can not be answered definitively.

Personally I like my chips clean and don’t usually buy into the whole "Preserving History" argument. However there are definitely some chips that I will not clean. If a chip is older and worn, to me it looks ridiculous when its completely spotless, yet the crosshatching is
completely worn. It just does not look normal on a chip like that.

However on a newer issue chip that is covered with grime and dirt, I have no problem giving it a little cleaning.

There are lots of methods of cleaning chips, but I prefer Armor All Multi Purpose Cleaner (NOT the stuff you use on your car interior). A little shot of this stuff, let it soak for a minute or so and then use a soft bristle toothbrush and the chips come out looking good as new.

If you are trying to decide what is best for you, I would highly suggest reading the Cleaning Tips posted on the website at the following link:

http://www.ccgtcc.com/cleaning.html

This should tell you everything you might want to know about cleaning chips and you can them make an informed decision as to what you would like to do with your chips.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.

Happy chipping to all

Doug