Simplify Your Home Part 4:  Preserving Your Memories

An important part of simplifiying your home has to include how to care for your family memories and heirlooms. The following tips will help you keep these precious items safe from the damaging effects of time and the elements.

 

The Enemies of Memories:

• Heat, light, moisture, dust, dirt, mold, mildew, insects/pests
• Vinyl, self-adhesive items (glue, tape, Post Its, magnetic photo albums, etc.)
• Low quality (highly acidic) paper, wood, mothballs
• Dirty hands, rough handling
• Cramming too many items into too small of a space

Keeping Memories Safe:

• Acid free papers, Tyvek, unbleached muslin, Mylar polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene
• Filtered glass to screen out UV light
• Flat, loose storage - room to breathe
• Moderate and relatively constant temperature and humidity
• Clean hands, cotton gloves
• Cautious, respectful handling

Anything important must be kept in the main area of the home - no garage, attic, or basement or under climate controlled conditions.

If a precious family heirloom is badly damaged, consult a professional conservator - do not try to repair yourself.

The American Institute for the Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) can help you find a reputable conservator in your area. They have a fact sheet on preserving family treasures.

Go to:  http://aic.stanford.edu/ or email: infor@aic-faic.org for more information.

Preserving Photos & Written Documents

• Transfer to archival quality storage containers. Do not use plastic, cardboard or vinyl.
• Do not store in attic, basement or garage.  They are too damp and are exposed to temperature changes.
• Keep materials separated by type as much as possible.  Storing photos and newspaper clippings together can cause harmful chemical reactions. 
• Keep like items together: newspapers, postcards, photos, letters, documents.
• Different materials require different types of treatment and storage:
• Example:  Buffered tissue paper prevents acidification of newsprint
• Unbuffered paper is better for photos.
• Keep scrapbooks intact and store flat in Tyvek envelopes.  Do not mix with other items.
• Do not let glue, tape, paper clips, rubber bands or any adhesive material come in contact with photos or documents.  Remove these items before storing.
• Isolate any items that are really badly damaged or have mold or fungus on them.  Place in a zip loc bag if the damage is extreme and consult a professional on how to repair.
• Handle photos by edges only with clean hands or gloves- oil from fingers can cause permanent damage.
• If you make copies of documents, make sure to do so on high quality archival paper and be extremely careful when handling them so they do not tear or crumble.
• BE PATIENT AND CAREFUL!! - You can do more damage to precious items from mishandling than you would if you left them moldering in the attic for 10 more years!!

Movies/Slides/Audio & Video

• Test recordings of old slides, home movies, reel-to-reel and other obsolete recording media if you still have the playback device.
• Videotapes more than 10 years old in good condition should be taken to experts to be copied onto new tape or CD. (see my quick link!)
• Old movies should be converted to CD as well.  Movies made prior to 1950 can represent a fire hazard, since the picture film made from nitrate is highly flammable.  If you think you have deteriorating film of this type, contact fire department or waste disposal as to how to dispose of this safely.
• Slides may distort in color over time.  Store these in slide protective pages of chemically stable polyester (Mylar) and store upright in dust free cases or archival quality storage boxes.

When purchasing archival materials be aware that:

• There is no such thing as "archival glue or tape".  These materials have chemicals and can destroy documents and photos over time.  Never place directly on document or photo.
• The material used must be inert - meaning it will not deteriorate, melt, or bleed over time or form noxious chemical interactions with the materials they are supposed to protect.
• It must be PVC free.  Note, however, that products labeled in this fashion in discount stores are not necessarily safe.
• Shopping at specialized archival-material suppliers or photo shops will guarantee that the products are safe for storage.