Wash and Dry, or how to get CF Cards squeaky clean

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/06/2004 09:53:00 AM · #1

I was taking the laundry out of the dryer and saw something sitting in the bottom of the drum. Turns out it was the 64MB CF card that I use to take files to the lab for printing. If it was here, then it had certainly gone through the entire wash/dry cycle. The little storage case was cracked, evidence of such abuse. I decided to put it in the card reader to see what error message was generated. Much to my surprise, it showed no error, indeed, I was able to read and write to the card with no problems.

I don't recommend this method for cleaning your memory cards, despite my positive results. Proceed at your own risk.

carlos

Canon EOS-50D

05/06/2004 10:05:45 AM · #2

LOL...

...let me suggest you just using the "format card" option when you want to wipe every shot out the card :-D

Carlos.

blemt

Nikon D70

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

05/06/2004 10:07:13 AM · #3

So what laundry soap do you reccomend for cleaning you cards? :)

--Clara

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/06/2004 10:27:20 AM · #4

Originally posted by blemt:

So what laundry soap do you reccomend for cleaning you cards? :)

--Clara

Tide

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

05/06/2004 10:41:04 AM · #5

Maximum PC did this test on a number of brands of USB flash keys. They don't all survive, so I wouldn't make a habit of this. ;-)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/06/2004 10:44:08 AM · #6

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Maximum PC did this test on a number of brands of USB flash keys. They don't all survive, so I wouldn't make a habit of this. ;-)

You would think it would be easy enough to engineer these to withstand a wash cycle ... since it's an entirely predictable occurrence I'm surprised the marketing departments haven't been pushing for it already.

autool

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

05/06/2004 10:44:09 AM · #7

What brand is it?

vonautsch

Nikon Coolpix B500

05/06/2004 11:15:51 AM · #8

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by nshapiro:
Maximum PC did this test on a number of brands of USB flash keys. They don't all survive, so I wouldn't make a habit of this. ;-)

You would think it would be easy enough to engineer these to withstand a wash cycle ... since it's an entirely predictable occurrence I'm surprised the marketing departments haven't been pushing for it already.

Of course they'd be able to engineer them stronger, but why would they? If they made them tougher, you wouldn't have to buy a new one to replace it, and that's just not good business! ;)

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

05/06/2004 11:41:19 AM · #9

Oh my! Now that is abuse!

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

05/06/2004 02:01:25 PM · #10

Originally posted by autool:

What brand is it?

SanDisk Standard

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

05/06/2004 02:09:24 PM · #11

Originally posted by GeneralE:

You might think that, but I doubt it's anywhere close to straightforward. The environment in a washer and dryer is quite harsh. It's a wet chemical bath, followed by a liberal application of heat, resulting in a hot humid environment. That's not even considering what happens during spin in the washer or tumbling in the dryer.

I'm sure it CAN be done, it's just that most people wouldn't pay what such a card would cost to justify the expenditure required to engineer and produce it.

autool

Canon EOS-20D

05/06/2004 02:41:54 PM · #12

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

SanDisk Standard

WOW the cheaper ones like I buy. Imagine that.

Thanks, Dick

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/06/2004 04:00:32 PM · #13

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

You might think that, but I doubt it's anywhere close to straightforward. The environment in a washer and dryer is quite harsh.

I was only talking about the washer, not the high/dry heat from a dryer, which would definitely introduce additional complications. It seems to me these are solid-state devices which require no openings into the case except for the electrical contacts. The chemicals used in regular washers are not particularly corrosive to plastics or metals; it seems like waterproofing a camera card shouldn't be that expensive, but I know I'm estimating and not quoting any hard facts ...

Prof_Fate

05/06/2004 04:06:21 PM · #14

Originally posted by Sonifo:

Oh my! Now that is abuse!

Since that is an easily predicted occurance, it might be called normal use. Perhaps you shold exchange it for a good one?

BTW, would you please test this for us as a method to clean the dust from our cameras? LOL

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/06/2004 04:09:09 PM · #15

My CompactFlash card is rated for 500,000 cycles, but it doesn't say whether those are Normal or Gentle cycles. Gentle is probably OK for daily cleaning, but some of my poorer shots are really hard to remove from memory. I may have to scrub those by hand. ;-)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/06/2004 04:14:15 PM · #16

Originally posted by scalvert:

... some of my poorer shots are really hard to remove from memory. I may have to scrub those by hand. ;-)

Now you've reminded me to go look up the list of ways to make data from a CD unrecoverable (hint: harder to do than you think).

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/07/2004 11:45:58 AM · #17

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You might think that, but I doubt it's anywhere close to straightforward. The environment in a washer and dryer is quite harsh.

I was only talking about the washer, not the high/dry heat from a dryer, which would definitely introduce additional complications. It seems to me these are solid-state devices which require no openings into the case except for the electrical contacts. The chemicals used in regular washers are not particularly corrosive to plastics or metals; it seems like waterproofing a camera card shouldn't be that expensive, but I know I'm estimating and not quoting any hard facts ...

Actually, some of the chemicals used in laundry are quite hostile to plastics. Spray&Wash especially attacks plastics and casuses it to become weak and brittle. Bleach and bleach vapor are no picnic either.

If you are wondering how I know about this stuff, it's because I work for a major appliance manufacturer in laundry product engineering.

Message edited by author 2004-05-07 11:48:25.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

05/07/2004 05:33:10 PM · #18

chlorine is definatley not a friend of most plastics - though some are designed to be resistant to its effects.

and for metals even less of a friend. even stainless steel will corrode
in a 13% bath of sodium hypochlorite ( liquid bleach x 4 ).

i've seen it eat through a 4" thick hard wood floor.

- and i had my camera get wet - with water only and that ruined my CF card - you are lucky it was a small card - and that it still works.