How to remove dirt from an old photo

What the restoration does with dirt

Upload the scanned photo. The restoration is set up to repair stains, among other physical damage, and to reduce noise and artifacts. Dirt is not named. The restoration treats general photo damage; check the preview.

If dirt covers a detail, that stretch can be rebuilt from the content around it, without inventing. In the preview, check the result before you pay.

And the paper? What the National Archives recommends

1. Wash your hands, no lotion

   The handling page says to wash your hands before touching paper and not to apply lotion, which can stain.

2. Use gloves on photographs

   The guide says to handle photographs and negatives with gloves, because fingerprints can cause permanent stains. The page does not specify the type of glove.

3. Don't improvise cleaning the original

   The National Archives advises seeing a conservator when the problem can't be solved with proper storage and handling.