Formation of yellow chromophores on artificially soiled surfaces of cellulose sheets, rag paper, linen, cotton, wool and silk during Nd:YAG (1064 nm) pulsed laser cleaning was followed using Vis and FTIR diffuse reflectance spectrometry. Content of reducing carbonyl groups and changes in FTIR reflectance spectra of cellulose are indicative of surface chemical modifications typical of thermal degradation at elevated temperatures. Two types of soiling were used: well-characterised natural dust and carbon powder and no difference in laser-induced formation of chromophores on material surface was observed at low deposit densities. The influence of laser fluence and number of repetitions was studied and a single pulse of a higher fluence (1 J cm(-1)) is in general more advisable. No bleaching of the chromophores formed was noticed after repeated treatments. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.