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Restoring Water Damaged Photos

Are you the victim of a flood or other natural disaster? Did a pipe suddenly burst in your home, and damage your photo collection? If you photos have been damaged by water, don't worry, there is hope - but you must act quickly and use care.

Restoration

If your photos are irreplaceable family heirlooms, it would be best to seek the help of a professional curator. Curators are trained to work with old photos and have specialized equipment to handle them. However, it is possible to save some photos yourself. When attempting to restore photos on your own, time is of the essence. Try to save your photos as quickly after the initial damage as possible. It is important to not let them dry before you separate them, so they don't stick together.

Drying

Before salvaging your photos, do a quick inventory. Find any undamaged photos or negatives. Don't worry about trying to save the photos with undamaged negatives because you can always redevelop them. If your photos are dirty or stuck together, rinse them in a bucket of cold water, without rubbing them. If you can't air dry them right away, place them in a Ziploc bag with wax paper between each photo and freeze them, then dry them on paper towels that have no ink writing or designs. Place something heavy at the corners of each photo to prevent curling. Replace the paper towels often, to speed the drying process. Avoid putting them in direct sunlight, because this can cause fading.

Water Damage

Water damage can be devastating, especially when it effects something as priceless as your photo collection. Remember, your photos can be restored, and your memories can be saved.