Heat and humidity: Heat and humidity are very damaging to photographs. Store your photographs where the relative humidity is under 50 percent and the temperature is below 70 degrees. The temperature and humidity should stay constant both day and night, summer and winter. Sudden changes in temperature, 80 degrees in the day to 60 at night, can cause the photograph to become brittle and crack. The best place to store photographs is in a safe deposit box in the bank, where conditions are kept constant year round.

Attics, basements, and garages: Do NOT store your photographs in attics basements, or garages. The extreme temperatures can cause your photos to crackle, the high humidity can make photos stick together, and insects and rodents find photos a tasty snack. Photos can be damaged by fumes and vapors from automobiles, oil-based paints, varnishes, and shellacs that may be found in garages.

Wood, paper, rubber bands, and paperclips: Many wood products and papers contain additives that can harm your photographs. Rubber bands, rubber cements, and tapes contain acids that can damage photos. Paperclips can scratch the surfaces of prints and negatives. Use acid free products and proper storage containers.


Storage Methods:

Paper: Lignin free, acid free, unbuffered paper can be used to store photographs or as interleaving paper in albums.

Plastic: You can store your photographs and negatives in any of the following plastic containers: Polyesters, Mylar, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, and Tyvek.