I usually clean coated optics with a single swipe of methanol on a
lens tissue.  Take a lens tissue and fold it a few times, put a drop
or two of methanol on it, and do a single swipe across the surface.
If the fingerprint refuses to come off, refold the tissue you just
used to expose a clean surface, add another drop of methanol and swipe
again.  If you are uncertain that your particular coatings are
Methanol-compatible then test a tiny corner of the optic first!
Also, make sure to use 'molecular grade' or ultra-high purity
methanol, as standard stuff contains things that will contaminate your
optic.

Craig


On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 11:42 AM, Carl Boswell
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I have some emission filters with dust that will not blow off, and one with
> an obvious fingerprint, all of which show up as blurry smutz in the image. I
> appreciate the need for caution when cleaning filters with soft coatings;
> e.g. no organic solvents, no touching, etc.  But what about a simple soak in
> dilute soap and water, followed by dH2O rinse?  Or, will a polymerizing
> cleaners, such as Photonic's First Contact work?  Obviously there is a
> solvent in this to keep the material liquid until applied.
>
> Thanks,
>
> c
>
> Carl A. Boswell, Ph.D.
> Molecular and Cellular Biology
> University of Arizona
> 520-954-7053
> FAX 520-621-3709
>