How to Clean Emulsion From a Silk Screen

Photo emulsion is used to transfer artwork to a silk screen in preparation for printing it. If you will be printing the same screen, you can just rinse away the ink between printings, but if you wish to reclaim a screen to use with new artwork, you will need to completely clean the emulsion from the silk screen. There are commercial products on the market for cleaning up emulsion, but in most cases they are not necessary, as you can use common household items to clean your silk screens.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bleach
• Hose and garden sprayer
• Brush
• Tray

1. Lay the silk screen over a tray that is large enough to catch all of the water and runoff as you clean. A paint tray or old cookie sheet makes a good cleaning tray.

2. Mix 1 part bleach to 1 part water. Pour the mixture over the surface of the silk screen and let it sit on the surface of the screen for three to five minutes.

3. Scrub the entire surface of the silk screen with a soft bristled brush. Get both sides of the screen, and along along the edges and in the corners.

4. Spray the screen thoroughly with a garden sprayer set to maximum power. Hold the screen at an angle to verify that all of the emulsion has been removed. You may need to repeat the entire process to remove all of the emulsion.

Tips & Warnings

• High water pressure is necessary, so invest in a good garden sprayer.
• Wear gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning emulsion from a silk screen. Do not use bleach in an area where it may damage plants. Work in a well-ventilated area.

References

• A complete guide to silk screening.