Family photographs and legal papers are the things people mourn after a flood. The National Archives, which preserves the nation's records, publishes guidance on salvaging wet materials. The central message is that time matters and gentle handling matters more.
The two-day window
The National Archives advises air drying wet paper within two days, or freezing it if you cannot dry it in time. Freezing stops deterioration and buys time. It is not a permanent fix, and it does not kill mold. Freeze first, then deal with the items in small batches.
| Item. | What to do. | What not to do. |
|---|---|---|
| Modern paper documents. | Air dry flat or freeze if you cannot dry within two days. | Do not stack wet sheets. |
| Bound books. | Air dry upright with pages fanned, or freeze. | Do not force a swollen book closed. |
| Framed photographs and art. | Dry them intact, in the frame. | Do not remove them from frames while wet. |
| Old photographs and negatives. | Handle by the edges, air dry. | Never freeze old photographs or negatives. |
| Modern prints. | Air dry face up on a clean surface. | Do not touch the print surface. |
| Maps and large sheets. | Dry flat between clean blotting paper. | Do not aim a fan directly at them. |
The never-freeze rule for old photographs and negatives is specific and important. Freezing can crack their emulsion layers. When in doubt about the age or type of an image, handle it gently and air dry.
How to dry papers and photos
Move to a clean, dry space.
Choose a room with moving air and low humidity. Cover surfaces with clean paper towels or blotting paper.
Handle by the edges.
Do not touch the print surface of photographs. Do not wipe or wash damaged images.
Lay flat or hang.
Lay items flat in a single layer, or hang with clips on the margins.
Use gentle airflow.
Use air movement in the room but do not aim fans directly at the items.
Resist the urge to separate stuck items by force. If photos stick together, do not pull them apart. When pieces are valuable or stuck, a conservator is the right person to call.
What to avoid
- Do not use heat, hair dryers or ovens.
- Do not rub or wipe wet surfaces.
- Do not use bleach or cleaners on photographs.
- Do not leave wet items in sealed bags for days.
- Do not discard anything irreplaceable before getting advice.
Contaminated water changes the picture. Items that sat in sewage or flood water carry health risks. Handle them with gloves and consider professional help. For the structure, our sewage backup page explains what contaminated cleanup involves.
Catonsville keepsakes
Catonsville is home to a long list of historic properties. Benjamin Banneker Historical Park, Castle Thunder from 1787 and the National Register districts of Old Catonsville and Winters Lane tell a long story. Many families here hold records, photographs and papers that go back generations, and basements are a common place to store them.
The Winters Lane district, listed in 2007, is described by the National Park Service nomination as the largest and most intact mid-19th-century African American neighborhood in Baltimore County. Family papers and photographs from districts like this are part of local history, and the National Archives guidance applies to them as it does to anyone's.
Source type: National Register nomination records, National Archives preservation guidance.
Setting up a drying space at home
You do not need special equipment to air dry papers. Clear a table or spread clean towels on the floor, cover the surface with unprinted paper and lay the items in a single layer with room around them. Change the paper when it gets wet. Keep the room cool and the air moving gently, and keep sunlight and pets away.
Work in small batches. A few photographs at a time is manageable, and a whole album is not. Label each batch with a note so you remember where items came from. If you run out of space, freezing is an option for paper but not for old photographs or negatives, as the guidance notes.
Where to get help
For very valuable or fragile items, a paper conservator can advise. Your insurer may cover professional document recovery under contents or special items, depending on the policy. Ask before you pay for a service. We handle the house and can pack out belongings while you arrange specialists.
If your loss involved a basement, see the basement cleanup page for the structure. Neighbors in Howard County may want the Ellicott City page for local details.
Document your own recovery
Photograph items before you move them. Write down what was damaged and what you saved. If you plan to claim, keep a record of any specialist's work. A photograph of a ruined album is evidence even if the album is lost, and a log of the steps you took shows you tried to protect what you could.
Families outside Catonsville keep keepsakes in basements too. The pages for Elkridge and Baltimore explain what happens to the structure while you work on the papers.
House and keepsakes both wet?
Handle the papers first, then call the 24/7 line for the structure.
Catonsville document questions
The National Archives advises never freezing old photographs or negatives. Air dry them gently, handling by the edges.
Air dry within two days or freeze, according to the National Archives guidance.
No. The guidance notes that freezing stops deterioration but does not kill mold.
Dry framed items intact. Removing wet items from frames risks tearing and sticking.