Preservation Treatment for Newspapers

Crease and Fold Release Treatment for Newspapers

Plastic storage tub with tight-fitting lid
- Large enough to accommodate an unfolded newspaper without it touching the sides of the tub
- Deep enough to accommodate the paper, the grid, and the reservoirs.

Plastic grid
- Use a light diffuser panel used to cover fluorescent lights in drop-ceilings.
- Cut to fit the size of the tub.
4 reservoirs
- Use plastic food storage containers.
- Fill with room temperature water to reduce condensation inside the chamber.
Blotting paper
- Cut slightly larger than the unfolded newspaper.

Instructions

Assemble the humidification chamber
- Set reservoirs in four corners of tub bottom.
- Lay plastic grid on top of reservoirs.
- Lay newspaper on top of grid.
- Put the lid on the tub.
Check the progress periodically
- Humidifying time will vary
- Do not leave the lid off for long, or the humid air will escape, and this will prolong the humidification process.
- When the newspaper is ready to remove, it will lay unfolded or unrolled on its own, and it may feel cool and slightly damp.
Once the newspaper has relaxed, dry it between two sheets of blotting paper.

Do not attempt to clean very brittle, fragile papers.
Use gentle techniques and the least amount of pressure.
Test a small area to be sure it will not smudge or be removed by the cleaning process.
Work on a clean flat surface.
Use brush to remove loose dirt by sweeping brush slowly and gently over surface.
Start at the middle and work toward the edges, brushing in one direction and in a straight line.
Gently rub the soiled paper with the plastic eraser in a small, circular motion.
To clean around tears, rub the eraser parallel to the tear, in one direction.
To clean along edges, rub the eraser in a single direction, moving from the paper onto the work surface.
As dirt is picked up by the eraser, clean the eraser by rubbing it across a sheet of sand paper.
Use the kneaded rubber eraser to press and lift the dirt from the paper, and then knead the soiled part back into the rest of the rubber material.
Use brush to remove bits of eraser from the paper and to keep work area under and around the paper clean.
Clean and dry the brush completely before re-use.
Do not over clean a document.

Use small pieces of tape 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.
Strategically tack the tear by placing small pieces in blank spaces between columns or in ads.
Do not use long continuous strips of tape.