Tips on Removing Mold from Slides

Oct 31, 2018 | Slide Scanning

Memories from your childhood hold a precious value that aren’t worth the risk of being ruined. Your film carries beautiful stories, unforgettable emotions, and true laughter that should be preserved for your kids and grandkids to watch. If you have yet to digitize your memories, you should consider doing so before deterioration begins! Film does not have a forever lifespan, which is why it’s important to research a local digitization company you can trust with your memories. Chances are, your slides have been in a box in your basement as the years have passed. This puts your media at risk for water damage or mold growth, harming a lifetime of memories. Even when practicing safe storage, unavoidable accidents can happen. Consider these tips on removing mold from slides when preparing them for digitization.

Gather Your Items

  • Cotton gloves

  • Soft pad or absorbent cotton

  • Isopropyl alcohol (98% or greater)

Step by Step

  1. Put on cotton gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints on slides.

  2. Moisten the soft pad or cotton with the Isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe the film until the mold is removed and appears clean.

  3. Remount your slides in a clean glass mount for safety and the prevention of new mold growth.

  4. Allow slides to air dry after alcohol has been applied and wiped.

  5. Repeat application to other slides that show signs of mold growth.

Avoid Doing These

  • Avoid using solution that contains water, as this could promote new mold growth. This includes ordinary alcohol, so be sure you are using the correct solution.

  • Do not store newly clean slides in an area with high levels of humidity and moisture to avoid new mold growth.

  • Don’t let your slides fade away! Digitizing them will preserve your memories for years to come.

Keepsake Solutions is a Columbus, Ohio based memory preservation service with over 15 years of experience.  We use cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art techniques to ensure that your memories are preserved, and that no precious moments are left in the past.  If you’d like to contact us with questions or comments, please feel free to do so at (614)392-1909 or email us below.