How to care for and store old family photographs

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Handle by the edges

   Wear nitrile gloves or have clean dry hands, and hold photos by the edges.

2. 2

   Step 2: Get them out of sticky albums

   Old magnetic albums with sticky pages and plastic film damage photos. Slide dental floss behind a stuck photo to free it. If it won't move, scan it in the album.

3. 3

   Step 3: Dust gently

   Brush off dust lightly. Don't use water or cleaners on photos.

4. 4

   Step 4: Label on the back

   Write names, places and dates on the back with a soft pencil. Never use ballpoint pen, which presses through and bleeds.

5. 5

   Step 5: Scan them

   Scan at 600 dpi or more and back the files up in two places.

6. 6

   Step 6: Store them well

   Use acid free sleeves and boxes and keep them in a cool, dry room inside the house, not in the garage or shed.