How to Save Flood Damaged Photos

Pictures are worth so much more than the paper they are printed on. The memories associated with the images are priceless and often can never be captured again. When a flood or other natural disaster damages your photos, have hope. There are ways to save the photos and maybe even return them to their former glory.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Set the environment for restoring the photos by lowering the humidity and temperature in the room. Limit the amount of direct sunlight. Make sure the room is as dry as possible.

2. Prioritize the photos. Fix the photos with the most damage or those without copies first. Repair color photos before black and white photos.

3. Stick the damaged photos in the freezer if you don't have time to repair them. Put the photos into a zip bag, place the bag into a container and put them in the freezer. The cold stops the photos from deteriorating and may even suck some of the moisture out them.

4. Clean the photos in clear, cold water. Be careful not to touch the surface of the photos. Instead, swirl them around in the water to remove any mud, dirt or grime.

5. Lay the wet photos face up on blotter paper. Blotter paper is an ultra-absorbent type of paper designed to absorb moisture away from the object placed on it. You want to dry the photo as soon as possible or it may begin to mold.

6. Place small weights to the corners of the photos to limit the edges curling. Be careful not the put the weights too far onto the surface of the photo or they could damage the emulsion.

7. Hang the photos from a clothesline. If you have a number of photos to dry, carefully pin them up to a clothes line and turn oscillating fans on them. Be careful to place the fans at a safe distance so they don't cause the photos to curl in the breeze.

Tips & Warnings

• To free photos that are stuck together, carefully place them in warm water. Change the water if it becomes dirty. Allow the photos to soak for at least an hour unless they release themselves before then.
• Consider having a professional restore your photos if the images can't be replaced, are family heirlooms or if the emulsion on the photo is damaged. Costs vary depending on the damage, size and age of your photos. Find a trusted photography store and ask them where to take your photos for restoration. Another option is to search the phone book for photo restoration companies in your area.
• Do not place photos on top of each other when they are drying. They stick together and are sometimes impossible to separate without more damage.
• Do not place photos on newspaper to dry. The news ink will stain the photos and cause more damage than you started out with.

Resources

• Find a qualified conservator