How can I remove rubber cement from the back of photos in a scrapbook?

Question

My grandfather archived many photographs and newspaper clippings in a scapbook by using rubber cement to adhere the papers to the scrapbook. Now, all the clippings are starting to deteriorate due to the high acid level. How can I safely remove the papers and pictures from the scrapbook to save them? Help!

Answer 1

Anytime I scrapbook I use Undu--I couldn't live without it! If I put a sticker on the wrong place on my page I just Undu it. It neutralizes the stickiness of the sticker, doesn't hurt the photo or the paper, and once it dries the sticker can be reused and put in a different spot. I just finished removing photos from a bunch of old-style sticky adhesive photo albums. Some pictures were really stuck so I soaked it with more with Undu, waited several extra seconds longer and then gently removed the photo. The best price I've seen for it was at Walmarts so I stocked up! PS: I also had a couple of old newspaper clippings to remove, I soaked them well with Undu and was able to gently remove them from the albums.

Answer 2

You could try a product called "UnDo". It can be found at most craft stores, most likely you will find it with either the scrapbook supplies or where they sell glue. I think I have even seen it at Wal Mart with scrapbook supplies. This product works well getting glue off of scrapbook pages but I have never tried it on rubber cement. It may be worth a shot.

Answer 3

newspaper clippings might not hold up but if you peel the photos off you can simply rub your fingers over the rubbercement and it will roll right up. you could also take them to a print shop and simply copy everything thats in there and use that to make the new book since the old stuff is falling apart.

Answer 4

Believe it or not, using a rubber pencil eraser is supposed to work.

Answer 5

why are all the answers so dull and short these days?

Answer 6

Maybe ethanol can work? :-P