For those of you who have been watching the news, you may be following the story of the fires in California. This got me to thinking about how much a person loses in such disasters. Whether it is a fire, flood, or some other disaster, often times pictures from some of our favorite memories can be destroyed. I have searched many sources to try to find some of the best ways to recover these photos. Below are the steps for cleaning photos provided by the scrapbooking company "Creative Memories".
Cleaning Photos
Step 1: With gloves on, place photos in cold water in small groups of one to five. Handle the photos by the edges only.
Step 2: Soak or rinse the photos with cold water. A gentle stream of water may be sprayed on the photo to help loosen debris. Change the water frequently to keep your work environment clean. Repeat this process if necessary.
Step 3: Conduct a final rinse using cold, distilled water. This will wash away any residue remaining from the cleaning process.
Air Drying Photos: Lay photos flat to dry on either a paper towel or on plastic or aluminum screening material fastened to a frame. You may also hang the photos by one corner using small clothespins. Drying should be done in a shaded part of your home.
Flattening Photos: If the photos are curled after they are dry, place individual photographs between two sheets of blotting paper. Place flat, heavy books on top of the sheets for 24hours in a humid environment.
Additional Tips
1. If possible, try making reprints of photographs or digital images from any negatives or files that may be available before attempting to restore damaged photos.
2. If you are unable to clean your photographs immediately, place them in plastic bags in a freezer until they can be cared for further. A freezer will slow fungal growth and ensure that your photographs are in a secure location.
Hopefully you will never need these tips, but if you do, I hope they help!
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