File:Capillary washing with Tek-wipe.JPG

The most common use of Tek-Wipe is for capillary washing, so that instead of changing and discarding discolored blotter throughout the washing process, conservators can simply rinse and reuse the fabric. This is especially useful for objects with a large amount of discoloration, as there is less waste, and objects with sensitive media, as only slightly dampened Tek-Wipe will still pull a significant amount of discoloration from the support. For especially fragile and sensitive objects, stacking sheets of Tek-Wipe increases the capillary action and decreases the frequency of rinsing, thereby reducing handling of the object. It is also possible to capillary wash large objects, such as wall maps, by using a few long, overlapped strips of Tek-Wipe. (description and photo courtesy of Gwenanne Edwards)