Skip to content
Restore now

Preservation guide · Updated September 30, 2026

How to store old photos without damaging them

Where a paper photo is kept and how it is touched weigh heavily on what happens to it. The recommendations below come from the National Archives (NARA) and the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI).

Short answer

Keep photos in a dry, cool place, away from basements, garages and hot attics, with relative humidity below 65% and temperature below 75 °F (about 24 °C). Use acid-free envelopes, folders and boxes, handle with washed hands and gloves, and avoid adhesive tape, glue, paper clips that are not stainless steel and unknown plastics. If something is already stuck together and can't be separated safely, NARA advises calling a conservator.

Avoid

  • A damp basement, a garage or a hot attic
  • Degraded adhesive tape, white glue or hot glue
  • Paper clips and staples that are not stainless steel
  • PVC or unknown plastic, and magnetic albums
Already have the scanned photo? See the restoration preview
In this guide
  1. Choose the place
  2. Handle with care
  3. Protect with the right materials
  4. Stuck, wet or moldy photos
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. References

Choose the place

NARA advises storing away from damp basements, garages and hot attics, away from leaks (pipes, windows, roof) and on a shelf, so the material doesn't get wet.

It gives a temperature below 75 °F (about 24 °C) and relative humidity below 65%, to prevent mold and reduce insects. Relative humidity below 15% can cause brittleness. The CCI notes that temperatures above 25 °C are unsuitable for unstable materials, such as acidic paper and old film, and that cold storage is preferable.

Handle with care

NARA advises washing your hands before touching paper, without applying lotion, and handling photographs and negatives with gloves, because fingerprints can stain permanently. The CCI mentions white cotton, nylon or vinyl gloves.

Light matters too: according to the CCI, its effect is cumulative and irreversible. So the best thing is to keep photos out of it.

Protect with the right materials

According to the CCI, plastic sleeves are not suitable for photographs with a damaged emulsion.

Avoid

  • Synthetic (white) glue, hot glue or unknown glue
  • Degraded adhesive tape
  • Paper clips and staples that are not stainless steel
  • Unknown plastics and PVC
  • Magnetic albums, with adhesive pages and a clear cover

Prefer

  • Lignin-free, acid-free boxes and folders, or with an alkaline reserve
  • Acid-free envelopes and pages
  • Stable plastic sleeves: polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene
  • Boxes that passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT), if you will store photographs in them

Stuck, wet or moldy photos

NARA advises contacting a conservator if the problem can't be solved safely with proper storage and handling alone. Wet or pest-affected material needs quick action to prevent further damage.

The guide to mold on photos covers what official sources say about that case.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What temperature and humidity are ideal for storing photos?

NARA gives a temperature below 75 °F (about 24 °C) and relative humidity below 65%, and warns that below 15% relative humidity paper can become brittle. The CCI considers temperatures above 25 °C unsuitable for unstable materials, such as acidic paper and old film.

Can I keep photos in a plastic envelope or sleeve?

Yes, if the plastic is stable: NARA mentions polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene, and recommends avoiding PVC and unknown plastics. The CCI notes that plastic sleeves are not suitable for photographs with a damaged emulsion.

Do I need gloves to handle photos?

NARA advises handling photographs and negatives with gloves, because fingerprints can cause permanent stains, and washing your hands first, without lotion. The CCI mentions white cotton, nylon or vinyl gloves.

Can I use adhesive tape or glue to repair a photo?

NARA lists degraded adhesive tape and synthetic, white, hot or unknown glues among the materials to avoid. For repairs, NARA advises calling a conservator when the problem can't be solved safely.

What do I do with a photo that is already damaged?

Proper storage keeps the damage from advancing, but it doesn't undo what is already there. In the digital copy, the restoration treats stains, scratches and fading without touching the paper.

References

The facts cited in this guide come from the pages below. Pages read directly on Sep 30, 2026. The institution gives Fahrenheit; the Celsius figure is our conversion (75 °F ≈ 24 °C).

Stored the paper? Make the copy and see the preview

With the digital copy, upload the photo and see the restoration preview before you pay. The original paper needs no treatment.

Restore this photo

Free trial, no card needed. Pay only if you like it, from US$2.99.