Can you clean a trading card?

The short answer is no, and that holds almost every time. A card is printed paper with a thin surface layer. Anything wet, abrasive or chemical gets through the surface layer before the dirt comes off, and the damage ends up worse than the stain. The only sensible thing is to gently remove loose dust from the surface.

Quick facts

Liquid	Never. The paper absorbs it and warps
Eraser or abrasive cloth	Never. Removes the print
Cleaning products	Never. Dissolves the surface layer
Dry, soft brush	The only sensible measure, for loose dust
Fingerprints on foil	Hard to remove without risking new scratches
When grading	Traces of cleaning can get the card rejected

What you can actually do

1. Brush off loose dust with a dry, soft brush, always in one direction.
2. Leave the stain alone. A card with a stain is worth more than a card with a damaged surface.
3. Put the card in a penny sleeve so it does not collect more dirt.
4. Describe the stain honestly if the card is going to be sold. Buyers accept stains, not surprises.
5. Do nothing at all if the card is going to be graded. The assessment is based on the card's condition as it is.

Why grading and cleaning do not mix

Grading companies look for signs that a card has been treated, because a treated card is no longer in its original condition. A card with a polished surface, trimmed edges or touched-up colour can be rejected outright instead of getting a lower grade. A dirty but untouched card gets a low grade. A cleaned card can end up with no grade at all.

Common mistakes

• Rubbing a foil card in circular motions. This can cause scratches that show up as haze in strong light.
• Moistening a cotton swab with water or alcohol.
• Using an eraser on an edge.
• Trimming a frayed edge with scissors. A trimmed card is worthless on the secondary market.
• Pressing a bent card under weight. A trained eye can often still see the bend, and in grading, pressing counts as manipulation.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I remove a fingerprint from a foil card? Rarely completely. Trying risks making it worse.
• Can adhesive be dissolved? No, not without taking the print with it.
• Can a bent card be straightened? No. The bend stays in the fibres.
• What do I do with a dirty card? Leave it, put it in a sleeve and describe the condition honestly.
• Are there professionals who clean cards? Treating cards is seen as manipulation at the grading stage, regardless of who did it.

What actually ruins a card

Water and moisture	The paper absorbs it, warps and never dries flat again
Alcohol and cleaning products	Dissolve the surface layer before the dirt comes off
Abrasive materials	Erasers and coarse cloths remove the print
Heat	Makes the foil bubble and the layers separate
Pressure	Pressing leaves shiny marks and does not fix a bend
Tape	Leaves adhesive that cannot be removed without taking the print

Better than cleaning: not needing to

1. Always hold cards by the edges, never by the surface.
2. Put cards you want to keep in a penny sleeve as soon as you open them.
3. Open packs over a clean, dry surface, never in the kitchen or outdoors.
4. Wash and dry your hands before handling foil cards.
5. Store cards somewhere dark, cool and dry so dirt and moisture cannot get to them.

Types of stains and what can be done

Loose dust	Brush gently with a dry, soft brush
Fingerprints on foil	Almost nothing. The risk of new scratches outweighs the benefit
Food grease	Nothing. The grease has soaked into the paper
Ink	Nothing. The print comes off with every attempt
Adhesive residue	Nothing worth the risk
Moisture damage	Nothing. The warping is permanent

What to say when selling

A card with a stain sells without problems as long as the stain is mentioned in the listing and visible in the photo. What causes disputes is cards described as clean that turn out to have marks when unpacked. Describe the condition more strictly than you think is needed, photograph in daylight without a sleeve, and let the buyer see the flaw before they pay.

If the card is going to be graded

1. Do not touch the surface at all. Every attempt to improve it shows in the assessment.
2. Put the card in a penny sleeve and a card saver, never a toploader.
3. Photograph the condition as it is before submitting.
4. Expect a dirty card to get a lower grade, not no grade.
5. A treated card, on the other hand, can be rejected outright, which is a worse outcome.

Read more about card condition, how to protect your cards and grading.

Shop: sleeves and toploaders at Bangerpack.

Written by us who run Bangerpack. Range and prices change continuously. What applies when you read this is shown in the category.