How to Store Old Photos, Negatives and Slides so They Last

Whether or not your photos have been scanned, the originals deserve looking after. These simple rules can help reduce deterioration.

Cool, Dry and Dark

Heat, humidity and light are the three main enemies. Aim for a steady room temperature, a relative humidity of roughly 30 to 50 per cent, and darkness. A cupboard in a lived-in room is far better than a loft, garage, cellar or conservatory, where temperature and damp swing through the year.

Use the Right Containers

• Store prints flat or upright in acid-free boxes and envelopes. Look for products that say “archival” or “photo-safe”.
• Avoid PVC plastic sleeves, rubber bands, paper clips and sticky tape.
• Keep negatives in their original paper wallets or in archival sleeves, and slides in their boxes or archival slide pages.

Beware of “Magnetic” Albums

The self-adhesive albums popular from the 1970s to the 90s, with a sticky page and a clear plastic film, slowly damage the photos inside. The glue yellows and the plastic can react with the print. If photos come away easily, move them to an archival album. If they are stuck fast, don’t force them: leave them in the album.

Handle With Care

Hold prints by the edges and film by its edges or mounts. Skin oils leave marks that become permanent over time. Don’t write on the back of prints with a ballpoint pen, which can press through and smudge. Label the envelope instead.

Signs of Trouble

• Fading or a pink or orange cast on colour prints: the dyes are breaking down.
• A vinegar smell from old negatives: a sign of film decay, so scan them soon.
• White or grey fuzzy spots: mould. Keep affected items away from the rest.

The Best Protection Is a Copy

No storage is perfect. A good digital copy, backed up in two places, means that whatever happens to the originals, the pictures are safe. See getting your photos onto your phone for how to keep your scans safe.