Handle wet paper gently and start within days
Paper is very fragile when wet, and ink, photographs and book covers can bleed or stick together. The National Archives advises handling wet items gently and wearing rubber gloves if flood dirt may be contaminated. The clock matters, because mold can grow on wet paper.
The Archives says wet books, documents or photos that cannot be air dried within two days should be frozen to inhibit mold growth. That step buys time to decide what to do with a large pile.
How to air dry papers
Lay documents flat in small piles or one by one on clean, absorbent blotting material such as blotter paper, unprinted newsprint or paper towels, and change the blotting material as it soaks. Position fans to circulate air without blowing directly at the papers.
Loose glossy pages should be spread in a single layer. Bound glossy books need wax paper between every page. For books, fan the volume open on edge and replace soaked interleaving, inverting the book each time.
What to do with different items
A general guide based on National Archives advice.
| Item | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Loose documents | Air dry flat on blotting material | Stacking them wet. |
| Books | Interleave and stand fanned open | Squeezing or forcing pages apart. |
| Most photo prints and negatives | Air dry face up, avoid touching the surface | Freezing old photographs or negatives. |
| Framed photos | Remove backing, air dry if not stuck | Prying a stuck photo from glass. |
| Valuable or irreplaceable items | Ask a conservator | Trying risky cleaning. |
Photographs need special care
The National Archives says old photographs and negatives should never be frozen. Most prints and negatives are air dried face up, without touching the image surface. Do not soak contemporary prints in cold water to separate them, since that can cause irreversible damage.
For framed items, remove the backing. If the picture is not stuck to the glass, air dry it after taking it out of the frame. If it is stuck, leave it in the frame and dry it intact, glass side down. For valuable prints, especially those without a negative, ask a conservator right away.
Mold on papers
If mold has appeared, dry items first. The Archives notes that freezing does not kill mold, it only makes it dormant. Do not brush off active mold, which looks fuzzy or slimy, because brushing can spread it. Dormant mold, which is dry and powdery, can be brushed or vacuumed outdoors with a soft, clean brush.
If you have health symptoms from mold, see a doctor. The structure also needs drying, since mold on papers can point to moisture in the room. The structural drying page explains that part.
Protect the room while you save the papers
Papers dry poorly in a wet room. Move items to a dry, cool room and keep humidity low with air conditioning or a dehumidifier. Stop the water source and have standing water removed so humidity does not climb. The water extraction page covers that.
For insurance, photograph items before moving them and list what was lost. Keep receipts for drying and storage supplies.
Sort first, then dry in batches
When a box of papers is soaked, resist the urge to dig through it. Pulling pages apart too early tears them. Decide what matters most, such as birth certificates, deeds, tax records and family photographs, and handle those first while the rest waits in a cool place.
Work in small batches near the drying area, and label each batch with a note so you remember what it holds. A written list of what was wet also helps with insurance, because contents claims ask for specifics.
Items that need extra care
Some things should not be handled the usual way. Inkjet printouts and watercolors can run when wet. Photographs stuck to glass can tear. Leather bindings and parchment can warp. For anything old, rare or sentimental, the safest move is to keep it cool, keep it still and ask a conservator before you try cleanup.
Electronic media is separate. Hard drives, discs and tapes that got wet should not be plugged in. A data recovery specialist may be able to help, and the water extraction page explains why the first hours matter.
Storage after drying
Once items are fully dry, store them in a cool, dry room away from exterior walls and floors. Use clean folders and acid-free boxes where you can. Keep silica packets or a dehumidifier nearby, and check on the boxes after a few weeks for any sign of musty smell or spots.
Digitizing the most important papers is a good second copy. Scan them or photograph them and keep the files somewhere other than your phone alone. That way a second water event does not erase them again.
What this means in Dunedin
Gulf coast humidity makes drying papers slow, so a room with a working air conditioner is a better drying space than a porch or garage. For a flood-zone question, the City of Dunedin links to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center on its floodplain page, and it is worth knowing where your home sits before you store irreplaceable papers low to the ground.
If you are in Clearwater, the Clearwater page has local details, and the service area page covers the rest of the area.
Where this guidance comes from
The drying and freezing steps follow National Archives guidelines for flood-damaged records. Treat them as general advice and ask a conservator about valuable items.
Wet photos and papers questions in Dunedin
No. The National Archives says old photographs and negatives should never be frozen. It recommends air drying most prints and negatives face up.
The Archives says items that cannot be air dried within two days should be frozen to inhibit mold growth.
If items are still wet, the Archives says you can agitate them in clear water to remove excess dirt, but never do this with blurred, feathered or faded images.
A conservator. The American Institute for Conservation keeps a referral list.
In an air conditioned room with a fan for circulation, not directly aimed at the papers, and a dehumidifier if needed.