Cleaning cardboard?
 

Anyone have tips for cleaning dirt and other stuff off of cardboard? My original trunk divider panel is a little abused over the last 51 years but I would like to save it if I can make it look reasonable. Was this divider installed before or after trunk spatter paint? Mine obviously has spray on it but that could have happened when it was painted in the late '70's.

No spatter on my original. I was just going to lightly wipe mine
& use some really low air pressure...like 5 lbs or so....Joe

My experience with them is, anything you wipe it with will leave streaks, especially if it is damp, like a sponge.

Use a fine bristle paint brush to lightly brush what loose dirt/dust will come off and that's about it.
You're looks a little tough for even 5 lbs of air, but you could try it. Those cans of air for blowing out keyboards may work...:dunno:

Maybe you're right, a soft brush would be better. definitely nothing wet. I don't want to ruin mine either. Original are hard to find....Joe

Realize or assume your trying to clean yet utilize this piece for survivor status and good on ya, but u also have an excellent opportunity to work to find similar material and thickness and use the original for a template both in shape and markings and have even though it may never be needed by that particular car. Might greatly assist u down the road or someone else. Just a thought!

Do you or someone you know have a "junk" piece to practice on? The same type of material was used on so many GM cars......... there has to be a sample laying around to develop a method for what you are trying to preserve.

I'll look around in my junk for just that.

Tim

Yes, Thats a great idea, as I need one for my 69 convertible.

Thanks Gregg

IF you put install it and hold it EXACTLY correctly inside the car originally--
Does the overspray of spatter match the "correct" assembly line "masked" areas or do the spatter overspray patterns match a "slipped down" divider board?

I think it matches up with the "slipped down board masking"

As an aside to trans port the board around use piece of thin luan plywood -

WHEN YOU CLEAN IT... DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO FOR 100% - especially given it's location-
Do all of this dry - and use a air blower to blow away after dislodging the contaminants.

1. take fairly stiff bristled brush and lightly use a circular pattern to begin to remove what ever you want to remove. - if that is not dislodging material - what is happening?
2 would a stiffer brush or more pressure or a more abrasive brush work better?

I think it matches up with the "slipped down board masking"

I'm not 100% sure what you're saying....did the factory have this divider in place when the original trunk spatter was applied? By "slipped down" do you mean the divider had been moved from original position when spatter was applied therefore probably done at some point by an prior owner?

Try eraser bags made for cleaning up pencil marks and dust on drafting drawings.