Mildew Challenge -

[eindecker2]

Here is a photo alum that I got today for ($2) from 1916. Mostly a family album with a couple of uniform pictures - however, along the outer edge there is mildew and mold stains and gunk. I would like to remove the mold and prevent it from coming back (better storage that the basement it was probably in before) any suggestions? Sinc I paid so much for it - experiments wont hurt me a bit - and none of the uniform pictures were damaged

[MikeB]

Mildew Challenge

eindecker2-
Mold/mildew is a tough one to correct on paper like this once it has been there and stained the paper. Mildew is just a kind of mold. It loves paper and damages it by breaking down the cellulose fibers. It does this by secreting an enzyme that it uses for growth and also for reproducing itself.
There are a number of conditions necessary for the growth of mildew and it sounds like your album was exposed to most of them! Humidity/dampness/temperature, paper (and other organic materials,) and dirt are what mildew thrives on. Most mildew thrives between 77 and 88 degrees F, although others can gain a foothold between 32 and 95 degrees F. Mildew likes a relative humidity of between 70-93 percent. Anything below 70 RH will tend to bring mildew's growth rate down, and below 62 RH will stop it. Mildew is aerobic and needs oxygen to grow, but does not require light to grow (that is why it does so well in dark, damp basements.)
So, once you have mildew, how do you get rid of it and prevent it from coming back? Since it is on paper, that is one of its food sources, but so is dirt. You can keep the paper/photos clean by using a soft camel hair brush and gently dusting the surface. Make sure you clean the brush afterwards as it will contain mildew spores that might contaminate other areas. Other sources recommend using a slightly damp, clean cloth to clean mildew as well, but I would not suggest it to you. If you get the photos damp, you are likely to damage them further. The mounting paper as well could be further ruined. The other 2 factors to remember are keeping dampness out of the air and keeping the temperature in the correct range. Once you remove the factors causing the problem, it will go away. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers help with this too as do dessicants. Proper ventillation will help as well as it removes dampness from the air and replaces it with (hopefully) dry air.
This is just a quick response, but it should get you on the right track! Mike

[eindecker2]

Hi Mike
Many thanks - as an experiment I simply brushed it off - that worked wonders, most of what the powder was - was not mold but rather a glue residue that had seeped out from behind the photos. However the paper is very brittle so it is going to a cellulose state but this is happening one the outer edge. Temperature and humidity are in the correct range for the storage room, I am also goign to put it into a sealed bag to keep the oxygen away and see how that does.
Many thanks!

[MikeB]

Mildew Challenge

eindecker2-
Glad to hear you had some luck with the "glue powder." I would not recommend putting the album in a bag, but rather an archival storage box. You may run into a couple of problems (on the other hand, you may not care about being real careful.) A bag will prevent the flow of dry air to the album. Also, if it is a plastic bag it may be made from chemicals that are harmful to the contents. Happy to hear that the other information was helpful. Mike

[Chap15]

If I have mildew problems I set the freezer to just below freezing. I place the item in a plastic bag and seal it and then place it in the freezer for 24 hours. Mildew is alive. The cold will kill it. You then brush it off. No chemicals are used. I've never done it with an album, I think the glue should be ok as long as you don't leave it in there for a long time.

[eindecker2]

Many thanks to all - I will try freezing it to see if I can get more of it to go away. It is no longer in a sealed bag - but the day or two in the sealed bag seems to have reduced the smell after a few days. Now it resides in an open ended archive sleeve.