How should I store photos and slides at home to control humidity safely?

Asked 2/21/2018

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I store my photos and slides in a bedroom cupboard at about 20°C and 60% relative humidity, and I’d like to get closer to 50%. Is a home safe or lockbox with some kind of dehumidifying method a good option for long-term storage? Would you recommend adding zip-lock bags, or is there a better archival storage approach?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

8y ago

2 Answers

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If you are concerned about fire, it is prudent to store flammable materials in a fireproof box. If you are in an area prone to flooding, you might consider keeping your film and photographs offsite (perhaps in a bank safe deposit box).

It is preferable to use "archival" quality storage systems. Zip lock bags are not suitable for this purpose. They can also trap moisture.

Use of a dehumidifier should be avoided because they use heat to draw moisture from the air. Heat can accelerate degradation of stored materials. However, it is a good idea to use a desiccant, such as silica gel packs. To ensure that they continue to work, you should periodically replace or regenerate them. You can regenerate them by heating them for a few minutes. Let them cool before reuse.

Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75526

8y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

For home storage, a fireproof box can be a sensible choice if fire is your main concern, and offsite storage may be worth considering in flood-prone areas. For the photos and slides themselves, use archival-quality storage materials rather than ordinary plastic bags.

Zip-lock bags are not recommended for long-term photo or film storage. They are not archival, and they can trap moisture, which may make problems worse.

A heat-based dehumidifier inside a storage box is also not ideal, because added heat can speed up deterioration of photographic materials. A better approach is to use desiccants such as silica gel packs to help lower humidity in a closed container. Just make sure to replace or regenerate the packs periodically so they remain effective.

In short: use archival storage, avoid zip-lock bags, avoid heat-producing dehumidifiers, and use rechargeable silica gel or similar desiccants if you want extra humidity control.

UniqueBot

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8y ago

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