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2014-09-15 by Richard Smallfield
Hi,
I have been storing some prints in boxes in my spare room, which has a dehumidifier running, so the air is very dry. Nevertheless, some have started to be damaged with mould. This surprises me, as I didn't think that mould could grow in such an environment. I wonder if there were already spores in the box when it was put in there, as it's quite an old box.
Has anyone got any experience or knowledge they can share?
Thanks,
Richard
2014-09-15 by Ron Williams
Most dehumidifiers won't drive moisture levels much below 30% RH. Mould will definitely grow at that level. I never store photos in wood or cardboard containers or in paper folders (provides mould growth medium) - metal only. I use glassine sheets to separate the photos when stacked. If you really want or need to drive the moisture down, use desiccant packs in the closed storage container (in addition to a general humidity control). The photo media/paper itself could be attractive to mould. Mould is insidious - I used to live in Florida and had growth in bright sunlight and sometimes surviving occasional (diluted) bleach baths. Sent from my iPhone... Ron Williams
2014-09-18 by Richard Smallfield
Most dehumidifiers won't drive moisture levels much below 30% RH. Mould will definitely grow at that level. I never store photos in wood or cardboard containers or in paper folders (provides mould growth medium) - metal only. I use glassine sheets to separate the photos when stacked. If you really want or need to drive the moisture down, use desiccant packs in the closed storage container (in addition to a general humidity control). The photo media/paper itself could be attractive to mould. Mould is insidious - I used to live in Florida and had growth in bright sunlight and sometimes surviving occasional (diluted) bleach baths.
Sent from my iPhone...
Ron Williams
2014-09-18 by Philip Lindsay
Are your print storage boxes fit with a lid? If so perhaps the box interior doesn't gain full access to the room dehumidifier. I have experienced a similar situation ithe camera lenses that were stored inside camera bags. I have found that a simple oscillating fan greatly improves the peformance of my room dehumidifiers by moving the room air. On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 8:49 PM, "Richard Smallfield rwsmallfield@... [DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint]" <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com> wrote: Hi Ron, thanks very much for your input. I will get some dessicant packs. The room is a tiny bunk room, so the dehumidifier is very efficient in that space. However, it used to be a mouldy room, so there must be spores in there. My bedroom wardrobe, which is not as dry as the bunk room, but has not had such severe mould problems. I checked some boxes of prints in there today and they seem ok, which is a relief. So it would seem that humidity levels aren't the only factor. If there has been mould in the room before, then it seems from this experience, that the room will always be prone to that problem - maybe unless it is cleaned out thoroughly with bleach. best wishes, Richard On 16 September 2014 10:23, Ron Williams ronwatl@comcast.net [DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint] <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > >Most dehumidifiers won't drive moisture levels much below 30% RH. Mould will definitely grow at that level. I never store photos in wood or cardboard containers or in paper folders (provides mould growth medium) - metal only. I use glassine sheets to separate the photos when stacked. If you really want or need to drive the moisture down, use desiccant packs in the closed storage container (in addition to a general humidity control). The photo media/paper itself could be attractive to mould. Mould is insidious - I used to live in Florida and had growth in bright sunlight and sometimes surviving occasional (diluted) bleach baths. > >Sent from my iPhone... > >Ron Williams > -- www.richardsmallfield.com www.unintendedmasterpieces.com