Tips for your home

Here is a list of simple and practical tips for best preserving paper documents, parchments and books at home, without professional preservation equipment:

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  Choose a stable, clean and dry place

  Avoid attics, damp cellars, laundry rooms or poorly insulated rooms. Opt for an interior room, sheltered from drafts, with a relatively stable temperature and humidity (neither too hot nor too humid).

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  Avoid moisture and water

  Keep documents away from damp walls, dripping windows, radiators, or pipes. Do not store them near a shower, washing machine, or clothesline. In case of heavy rain or risk of flooding, raise them a few inches off the ground.

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  Protect from sunlight and direct light

  Never hang documents or books facing a window exposed to direct sunlight. Close curtains or blinds during the day, especially in summer. Never leave a book outside in the sun, even for a short time.

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  Avoid unsuitable plastics and protective materials

  Do not protect documents or books with plastic sleeves, plastic sheets, or plastic bags. Instead, use acid-free paper folders, rigid boxes, or natural fabric covers if necessary.

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  Lay them flat, without too much pressure

  For flat documents, store them horizontally in folders or boxes, without stacking them too heavily. Books can be stored vertically, but not too tightly packed or too empty on the shelves, to avoid deformation and wear to the binding.

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  Never use Scotch tape or adhesives

  Remember that you should never stick tape, adhesive tape, or any kind of "all-purpose glue" on a paper document, parchment, or book. The acidic deposits attack the material and make any subsequent restoration more difficult.