Photo tray stains

[Bill Kumpf]

I just purchased several used photo trays. Most appear to be almost new. Two of the trays have some chemical stains. The seller did not know what the stains were. All in all, it was too good of a deal to pass up.

All the trays are scheduled for a good soap and hot water scrubbing. Is there any way to remove the stains? Or does it really matter?

Thanks for your comments.

[domenico Foschi]

The stained trays are probably due to developer.
I have read somewhere that developer stained trays can be cleaned with ferry.
I scrub all of them frequently with water and dish soap, sometime with regular bleach.
Make sure to scrub the bottom as well, since when you stack them there is the danger of some contamination: better be safe than sorry.
The most important though are the developer trays: a contaminated one will ruin your prints, stop bath and fixer trays pose less than a problem, but still is important to clean them and give to individual ones a specific job.

[Andrey Donchev]

You can find a recipe for stain remover for trays in the Anchell's "The Darkroom Cookbook". If you don't have a copy of the book, I can write it here.

[jnanian]

bill

i have never used this on trays
but i have read that mr clean's magic erasers
work well.

YMMV

john

[Bill Kumpf]

Andrey,

I do have Anchell's "The Darkroom Cookbook". I will check for the formulas.

Thanks all for the leads

[Aled Hughes]

Milton baby fluid is cheep and readily available, mix as they recomend and leave overnight, works a treat.

[Louie Powell]

In my experience, a tray used for developer tends to acquire a pretty intense stain over time. I've managed to clean mine using ordinary hypochlorite bleach, but the next time I use them, the stain comes back the instant that the developer is poured in.

Also, it's been my experience that the stain is only noticeable when the trays are dry and in storage. So if you use them more than you store them, you won't notice the stain.

[SamReeves]

Darkroom trays will always have a stain or two no matter what you do to them. That's why they stay in the darkroom and not on the dining room table!

[Ralph Barker]

Plus, if you have large trays, be sure not to use them for making other "mountain beverages".

[Andrey Donchev]

It is formula #199.