Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Screen Cleaning

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Topic: Screen Cleaning

Steven Pickles
Film Handler

Posts: 81
From: Gainesville, FL, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 08-07-2001 10:43 PM

I'm looking for cost-effective way to clean my screens on a regular basis. Are there any industrial vacuum attachments that could be purchased or rented? Is the best bet just to have a professional come to clean them? Finally, since I've never done it before; what is there to cleaning a screen?

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 08-07-2001 11:01 PM

Quite frankly, you need a pro. You should not have to clean your screens that often if the AC filters are replaced/cleaned and smoking is not allowed. Another stupid architect trick: placing return ducts for the HVAC behind the screen, so dirt is drawn to the screen.

This was a topic awhile ago, where someone gave the name of a guy who specializes in screen cleaning. A search should find it.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-08-2001 09:22 AM

Try the Boxoffice Magazine "Buyers Directory":
http://www.boxoffice.com/buyers00.html

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Kyle Abel
Film Handler

Posts: 56
From: Plano, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 08-09-2001 01:48 AM

Purchase a good screen brush. We use ours at least every 2 weeks. Keeps dust off the screen but any stains (Coke, Cheese) needs a wet treatment.

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Kyle Abel
General Manager
Plano Movies 10

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-09-2001 11:13 AM

Generally, a matte surface screen is less likely to be damaged by wet cleaning with a liquid detergent or solvent, since they are normally made of pigmented PVC plastic. But the coatings used on "gain" screens are likely to be damaged -- improper "wet" cleaning (even with pure water) may remove or change the reflective properties of the coating, resulting in a very visible "spot" or streaking where the screen was cleaned.

Vacuuming or dusting the surface with a soft screen brush to remove surface dust is relatively low risk, but leave wet cleaning or stain removal on gain screens to professionals.

Smoking in the theatre will quickly discolor a screen with the airborne "tar". Likewise, cooking oil vapors (making popcorn or deep-frying food) can spread thoughout a theatre, unless properly vented. Be sure the returns on your HVAC are not located behind the screen, such that they "suck" stale, dirty air toward and through the screen. IMHO air blowers or leaf blowers should never be used for cleaning auditoriums as they just "stir up" lots of dirt.

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Geoffrey Weiss
Film Handler

Posts: 68
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: May 2001

posted 08-09-2001 01:17 PM

Kyle----cheese!?!

We had some morons throw eggs at the screen during a showing of "Liquid Sky" (I was also tempted, but ...) but ... CHEESE????

There has to be a story behind that.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-09-2001 01:46 PM

Naturally ---> Nachos with cheese!

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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2001 02:23 PM

John, in my years of experience, using blowers in the auditoriums does not create any serious problems with dirty screens provided the concrete floor is properly sealed and regularly wet-mopped.

The things that do create problems are improperly maintained HVAC units, behind the screen venting, open doors, roof leaks, and rarely a popcorn popper that vents air into an auditorium.

Janitors need to be trained not to use blowers closer than the first three rows of seats. The only time I've ever noticed problems with dirt was with a low screen and a janitor blowing debris into a pile on the apron. Even at this, the problems were more dust and debris behind the skirting than anything on the screen.

Jeff Knowles old Dephi forum had this topic covered in detail. That forum is dead, but the archives are still available.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-09-2001 03:19 PM

Jerry said:

"...using blowers in the auditoriums does not create any serious problems with dirty screens provided the concrete floor is properly sealed and regularly wet-mopped...Janitors need to be trained not to use blowers closer than the first three rows of seats."

Some big "ifs" that aren't always obeyed, resulting in a cloud of dust that deposits over everything.

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-10-2001 03:24 AM

Are you guys saying smoking is still allowed in some U.S. screens? Surely that has been outlawed by now?

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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.

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Kyle Abel
Film Handler

Posts: 56
From: Plano, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 08-10-2001 04:52 AM

Geoffery,

John is right, nacho cheese that comes with the nachos. I guess the same thought process goes on with throwing cheese as with throwing coke on the screen. It's not something that's intrigued me personally, I guess some moron either really hated the movie or wanted something to last as a signature, even if it only lasts a day or two (depending on when the guys can come out to clean it).

------------------
Kyle Abel
General Manager
Plano Movies 10

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-10-2001 07:23 AM

John Wilson said: "Are you guys saying smoking is still allowed in some U.S. screens? Surely that has been outlawed by now?"

AFAIK, smoking regulations in the USA are up to the local (city, county, state) authorities, so there may still be some areas that allow smoking in public buildings.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-10-2001 08:59 AM

I have never seen a screen that has been cleaned that was not a bit streaky or splochie.

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