Photo Preservation doesnt have to be an overwhelming,daunting task.Being careful to take simple steps to preserve your photos is the best way to ensure that your pictures will last a lifetime.Unfortunately,many people do not think much about these steps,and when they do,they scramble to try to undo the damage they have unwittingly caused.Here are the top ten mistakes that people make when handling and storing photos,and tips on how to prevent common damage.

Writing on the back of a picture with the closest writing utensil at hand.Pencils,markers,and pens are a photographs nightmare.Most of these implements contain a substance that will erode the photo with time.Using a pen that contains India ink or carbon ink will prevent your photos from being eaten over the years.Not writing on the back of a picture at all.Most photos that are lucky enough to survive long term storage are found by those who have no clue who the people or places are in the picture.Photo preservation starts with making sure (with carbon or India ink) the subjects in the photo are identified so that they dont get tossed out as insignificant.Storing the photos in a cardboard (or even plastic) box.The problem with cardboard is that it allows dust,moisture,mold spores,and dirt to sneak in and feast on your photographs.Many Clear Plastic Boxes are made of a material that causes corrosion to photos.To put your mind at ease about storage containers,make sure you invest in one that is marked for archival use.These are excellent at keeping the elements at bay,and wont harm your pictures in the process.Keeping pictures in the basement.People nowadays possess so many photographs that for many it is difficult and not ideal to keep them in storage boxes on their living room bookcase.Avoid the common mistake of storing them in basements and crawl spaces (or the garage floor,for that matter).Many basements are prone to mold,mildew,and dust,which love photographs,and many basements,especially older ones,are usually loaded with humid,stuffy,stale air.Instead,keep the pictures in a closet in a bedroom,family room,hallway,or above ground storage room on a shelf.Using self adhesive (magnetic) photo albums with the clear cover sheets.It is too bad that photo albums are the very things that destroy what they were meant to protect.The sticky adhesive on the pages of these albums contains acid that slowly chew through the paper backing of pictures.Instead,use albums and glue that are made of gelatin.This glue can be made at home or bought in art supply stores.

Avoiding these ten mistakes and following the tips that follow them is just the beginning to ensure photo preservation.There are dozens of other things people unknowingly do with their photos that cause damage,but these guidelines will get you ahead of the game in the race against time.

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