Fixit: Moldy 50-year-old love letters worth a look, but do it outdoors

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Fixit: Moldy 50-year-old love letters worth a look, but do it

outdoors

Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis,MN*

By KAREN YOUSO, Star Tribune

May 24, 2008

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/19234299.html?

location_refer=Home%20+%20Garden

Q My husband and I cleaned out the basement and found love letters

from 50 years ago. They're in a plastic bag and it has lots of mold.

I think it's dangerous to even open the bag and we should throw them

out. My husband disagrees. What should we do?

A Look at your love letters. But you'll have to decide how risky you

want that to be.

Kathy Norlien of the Minnesota Health Department suggests wearing an

N95 respirator (disposable device that covers the mouth and nose),

goggles and gloves. Go outdoors to open the bag. If there's a wind,

you'll want to be upwind of the project.

That's being very cautious, Norlien admits.

You could just open the bag. " You're not going to die if you do, "

she said. But if you have allergies, you could have a reaction and

it's wise to protect yourself.

Either way, open the bag outdoors. You don't want to release mold

spores in the house. And if you feel any negative health effects,

contact a doctor.

Prepare to be disappointed when you open the bag. You may not be

able to read the letters. Extensive mold growth can darken and even

destroy paper.

Once removed from the bag, place the letters in a dry environment.

Short exposure to sunlight and circulating air outdoors can help.

But remember that over time, sunlight can darken or fade the

letters.

For more information on conservation, including restoring moldy

objects, go to: palimpsest.stanford.edu.

Includes information from the Preservation Department, Library of

Congress, Washington, D.C.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425

Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-

mail fixit@.... Past columns are available at

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