How do I get a film build-up off my cards?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Grizabella	20 Aug 2004
I've noticed that my cards seem to have a film coated on them from being handled and shuffled a lot. It bothers me. I noticed it when the light hit them just right the other day. Is there a way to clean this off without hurting the cards?

cartarum	20 Aug 2004
you could try all sorts of things, but most chemicals will damage the cards, as well as scrubbing or scraping. you might want to consider retiring your deck. then do preventative maintenence on your next one. clean your hands before you read. and dont read with sweaty hands or anything like that. make sure you read on a clean surface, like a silk cloth. do not eat and read either. kinda like being on a library computer.... hope i could help! ~A~

Flavio	20 Aug 2004
I read once a post here about using zinc estearate (hope spelling is right) for cards maintenance, you can buy it at stores for magicians, is inexpensive, like baby powder and useful to fan the cards easier, maybe that substance can help you.

darwinia	20 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lyric Is there a way to clean this off without hurting the cards? It depends on the lamination too. My first deck was a used Zerner Farber that was a bit gunky. I VERY carefully wet a paper towel and wrung it out until it was ***barely*** damp and wiped the cards carefully on the front and back. I dried each one with a fresh paper towel as I went, and then put them to dry on another set of paper towels. Quite paper towel intensive but it worked. They were not clean at all and I've never had to do this with any other deck, but it worked. Do it slowly, it's not a rush job. Play them jazz afterward, they like that.

Grizabella	20 Aug 2004
Thanks for all the input. I don't eat and read my cards at the same time. I've just used them a lot and I guess it might just be something that happens over time. I'll try the fanning powder---that's what the powder is called. I'll try the jazz, too. That just might be the key.

lunalafey	21 Aug 2004
cornstarch- or flour If you have little spots of 'stuff' on your cards, lightly rubbing cornstarch (not cormmeal) on the cards will lift the debris from the card.

The How do I get a film build-up off my cards? thread was originally posted on 20 Aug 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.