How To Save Water Damaged Photos

11/4/2019 (Permalink)

Need helping saving important documents or photos after a disaster strikes!?

After a major storm hits causing flooding in your home or office, your first thought is not couch or desk that is going to be damage but the pictures that hold special memories or files that contain important documents that are submerged under water. While it may seem like a hopeless cause to try and salvage them, following a few simple steps cause make it possible. 

1. Carefully lift the photos/files from the water and separate them so they stand alone. 
2. Gently rinse the photos/files in cold, clear water. Do not rub photos/files!
3. Lay each photo/file on a dry non-inked paper towel, face-up. Change the paper towel every hour until the photos/files are dried. To avoid your photos/files from curling faster, dry them inside away from the sun or wind. You can also create a clothesline inside and hang the files from there. 
4. If you do not have to dry your photos/files right away, rinse all photos/files and stack them between wax paper and then put them in a zip lock bag in the freezer. Freezing your photos/files will allow you to properly defrost, separate and air dryer your photos/files.
5. It is a good idea to have a fan circulating air where you are drying your photos/files to speed up the process. 

When dealing with photos or files that have been damaged by water, it is important to remove them from the wet surfaces and to a dry area as soon as possible. 

Damages books or files can often times linger a musty smell. If so, place them in a cool, dry place for a couple of days. If the smell is still present, place them in an open box, placed inside a larger closed container with an open box of baking soda which will absorb the smell.