How to Avoid Acid Migration in Scrapbooking

Acid migration occurs when the acid in one object seeps out of it and into another object. Objects have to be touching for acid migration to occur. This makes acid migration a particular concern in scrapbooking, where photos, stickers and pieces of paper are taped and glued to one another as a matter of course.

Things You'll Need

• Acid-free plastic or glass storage containers
• Archival safe plastic sheets
• Acid-free paper
• Acid-free adhesives
• Acid-free scrapbooking pens

Instructions

Avoid Acid Migration in Your Scrapbooking Projects

1. Store your photographs, paper and other scrapbooking supplies in acid-free containers. Cardboard boxes and other storage media that contain acid can cause stored items to pick up that acid. Plastic and glass containers work best for storing scrapbooking supplies.

2. Use plastic sheets between items in a storage container to keep them separate. Keeping photographs and artwork from touching each other while in storage will also prevent acid migration.

3. Handle photographs and sheets of paper by their edges. There is acid in your fingertips. By only touching the edges of photographs and paper, you will avoid acid migration from your fingertips to those objects. Do this when turning scrapbook pages for even more acid protection.

4. Use only acid-free paper to mount your photographs and artwork. Using paper that is not acid-free will result in acid migration from the paper into your precious photos and mementos. Look for paper labeled "acid free" or "archival safe" in crafts stores or office supply stores. You can also buy acid-free paper online at Staples.com® (see Resources below).

5. Purchase adhesives and pens labeled as acid-free. Even the glue and tape you use to mount photographs and other items in a scrapbook can contain damaging acids. So can the pens you use for drawing and writing on scrapbook pages.

6. Place high-acid items, such as newspaper clippings or old letters, in plastic before attaching them to a scrapbook page. A plastic baggie stapled or glued to a page is one solution. Another solution is to laminate the high-acid item.

Tips & Warnings

• Another way to avoid acid migration from items like newspaper clippings is to use a deacidification pH factor spray. If preferable, you can also copy the clipping onto acid-free paper instead of using the original in your scrapbook.

• Acid migration is of particular danger to photographs. Acid can cause photographs to disintegrate over time. This is why photographs should never be mounted on anything except acid-free paper.

Resources

• Buy acid-free paper from Staples.com