How do I save photos that got wet in a flood?

[craig1969]

My basement flooded yesterday andI was unable toget a lifetimes worth of photos out. The photos are still damp and are sticking together as are the negatives. What is the best way to save these photos and negatives?

Thank you,

Craig1969

[Nagasaki]

Photos and negatives are washed as the last step of the process so they can stand water. The problem is that as they dry out they'll stick together because the emulsion is soft when wet. You need to seperate them and let them dry. If they're already stuck together try resoaking them in clean water. The prints can be dried flat on old newspapers the negs are best suspended from a line.



Ken

[Ronnie948]

Try to get a bottle of Kodak Photo-flow, then soak the pictures and negatives to separate them, lay them flat and let them dry. You can get the Photo-flow from Ritz camera store.

Do not try to pull the pictures or negatives apart just using water because it will probably ruin them.

Also look at a blotter book at Ritz while you are there, They soak up the moisture and the photos will not curl when dried in a blotter book.

Ronnie