Smelly Photos

Recently purchased a lot of older board mounted photographs and they smell bad, like they were in a mouse infested area for a long time. A lot are worth trying to save. I've heard of things like dryer sheets and cat litter, or a container with a small ozone machine. I've read some bad stories about the ozone thing though. Has anything else worked for you for getting smells out of paper items?

 

Something like this may help ...
https://www.amazon.com/SMELLEZE-Reusable-Animal-Removal-Deodorizer/dp/B004SBLK06

Maybe place it in a bag along with you items?

 

Typical Amazon reviews. OMG THIS WORKS GREAT and THIS DOES ABSOLUTLY NOTHING AND IT ALMOST KILLED ME. There's also things like Activated Charcoal and Baking Soda.

Could get costly chasing after something that actually works. End up with 20 different things in a sealed container.

Wish I could just send this lot back, but as I said there's some great content. Can't believe someone would think it was ok to just dump this in a box and send it off as is. The box was reused and falling apart when delivered also.

 

Activated Charcoal and Baking Soda

friendly and harmless.....worth trying..

 

Ozone emitters are well known.... but the precautions have kept me from investing in one..

 

I also use baking soda against smells.

 

Although items can appear to smell, odors are actual airborne particles in the air dispersing/decaying from the object. Baking soda works by absorbing these particles, which, of course, eliminate the smell in the air. The stank coming from the photos indicates that they are in a continuing state of decay which requires moisture even at the tiniest level. Direct sunshine is the best sanitizer to end that process. Of course in the case of photos, sunshine is not your best friend , but photo side down, outside fresh airflow in a lightly shaded area for a hour or three(depending on the temperature) is still the fastest way to retard the process. Combined this with the baking soda lightly dusted for absorption and you should be pleasantly surprised.

just my passing thoughts,
(Typical me, overthinking everything)

 

Kronos-Sorry about the shameful customer (non) service,really beyond the pale !
You might give this online query a try-
'What do crime scene cleaners use to eliminate smells odors ?'

 

Try sunlight and fresh air first. Try to set them upright to expose as much surface as possible - perhaps using something like a dish drainer. You can also set up a fan to increase air flow.

I have also had luck with an odor absorbing combination - cat litter containing activated charcoal and/or zeolites, and a gel form odor absorber called Fresh Wave. You need a way to support the stinky things above the absorbents, in a sealed container like a bin or just a large plastic bag tied at the top. Use a tray of the cat litter, with a small cup of the Fresh Wave sitting in it. Then a rack with the objects above, and seal it up for a few days. You could run a few tests with some of the photos to see how many days would be needed.

Don't apply any of the deodorizers directly onto the photos.

Good luck!

 

To start cheap, I think i'll go with the baking soda and cat litter/activated charcoal first. Any of the "professional" use chemicals or methods seem to be quite expensive, so those will have to wait.

I do see there are battery/chargeable small ozone machines I could use if I were to go that route. Makes it easier to have the tub in a well ventilated/safe area. Gotta see if I can find some mentions of using that on old paper and how well it works before shelling out the cash.

Thanks for the advice so far. Here are a few of the photos from the lot. A bunch have to do with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and their early involvement in Australia.

 

Another vote for trying sunlight first. I'd put them face down in a dish drainer and put them outside. Try the fancy stuff later.

 

They have enclosed charcoal absorbers which are inexpensive I have used them in an open & closed box inside & outside they reactivate in the sun so are reusable. I have used them to get smells out of old cookbooks & photos.

 

That last photo raises soooo many questions in my mind!

 

Yes-The young women and teacher seem to be displaying the A&C furniture they created.

 

I think it might be teachers, plural. One of the young women (the one in the middle) seems to have a pinned on watch…

 

https://www.amazon.com/SMELLEZE-Reusable-Animal-Removal-Deodorizer/dp/B004SBLK06. I agree with Roaring20s. I used this on some important paperwork I took out of my cousin's house after she passed. She was a hoarder and some of the stuff smelled really bad but I had to retain it. This product really worked.

 

I'd go with putting them outside too, I bought some Victorian velvet once that smelled horrible, a few hours outside and the smell just dissappeared.