Family photos capture irreplaceable memories and moments. When water damage strikes, these treasured keepsakes are often among the most emotionally valuable items at risk. By taking the right precautions and acting quickly, you can help preserve these memories for generations to come.

Before Water Damage: How to Protect Your Photos

Digitize Your Collection - Scan your physical photos and save digital copies to cloud storage or an external hard drive. This ensures you have backups in case of damage. 

Store Photos Safely - Use waterproof, archival-quality photo storage boxes or albums to protect your photos from humidity and leaks. Store them in elevated, dry locations away from basements or areas prone to flooding.

Create Emergency Kits - Include essential photo-protective materials like acid-free paper, resealable plastic bags, and gloves in your emergency preparedness kit.

After Water Damage: Steps to Save Your Photos

Act Quickly but Carefully - Retrieve wet photos as soon as it’s safe to enter your home. The longer they remain wet, the more likely they are to sustain irreversible damage.

Dry Properly - Lay photos flat on a clean, dry surface, image side up. Use wax paper or paper towels to separate stacked photos and prevent sticking. Avoid drying photos in direct sunlight or using a hairdryer, as this can cause warping.

Freeze for Later Restoration - If you can’t dry photos immediately, place them in resealable plastic bags and store them in the freezer. Freezing halts deterioration and gives you more time to restore them.