How to clean photos with mouse urine stains?
 

Hi there,

I recently found an old dresser in a barn that was filled with photos from the 70s and 80's but it looks like the drawers were also home to some tiny rodents... the stacks of photos are surrounded by nut pieces, fabric stuffings (nesting warmths) and droppings.. the top photos (haven't removed any photos yet but suspecting its the top ones with the most damage) are sprinkled with dirt and urine spots... any hope for salvaging these photos?!

Thanks in advance for any tips to save these memories.

http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-t...d-photographs/
http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2009/...-wear-and-tare
or google "cleaning old photographs"

This cleaning liquid is often recommended
http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/PEC-12.php

However this is for "non-water based stains". Yours are "water based". This means water or alcohol or some mixture of this basically is the solution you need. However this would likely damage the pictures. Try it first on a picture you do not need. Maybe quickly with a damped cloth. You could give the PEC-12 a try and see if it works in some way.

Reg. Urine "The following is about cat urine, but anyway).
http://catcentric.org/care-and-healt...ing-cat-urine/
"Uric acid and its salts have been left behind. Uric acid is not water soluble and bonds tightly to whatever surface it touches." "The only thing that will break down the uric acid to permanently remove the smell is an enzyme cleaner."

Enzymatic cleaners for urine removal
http://store.bio-proresearch.com/ind...-off-home.html
These products are likely water based ( will damage photos ) and maybe also need some time to work.
However Uric acid degrades over time, so this is maybe not relevant for you.

Probably the most secure way is to "dry" remove dirt manually and carefully and fix the imperfections with photo software. It is a good idea to make any cleaning in steps and take pictures or scans along the way. If you do not have professionel photo lamps, outside on a clouded day is good for photos.

Or find a professional
http://www.conservation-us.org/

I definitely would NOT want mouse piss on our pro flatbed scanner! :mad4:

Thanks for your suggestions, I will check out your links..

No, I will not be putting the photos with mouse piss on our scanner either! :eek: