How do you get the musty smell out of pictures that were stored in basement?

Question

Do you use cedar chips or what? We have some pictures that were from my wife's mother and she had them stored in a basement and they smell musty and we don't know what to do. Thanks.

Answer 1

If they are not framed you can put them in a cotton bag or pillow slip and place a Fleecy Fabric Softener sheet or two in with them and shake it around a bit and leave for a day or two and maybe put them outside to air. Good luck

Answer 2

I have the same problem, I just received two boxes of pics from my folks that passed away recently, they've been stored since WW2 from my dad and ma. they're so musty smelling my wife didn't want to even touch them. They're rare and full in family info since before I was born.
I've put them out in my basement work shop and they smelled the whole place up. Some smell like moth balls.

The ones I want to keep out I've wiped with a solution of warm Dawn dish soap (anti-bacterial) and water then left out, seems to work to some extent. Good luck.

Answer 3

I have the same probem every time my mom sends me something. You can put them in a closet without anything but the pictures and place a cut bag of charcoal in with them and close the door. The charcoal will suck up any moisture and trap the bacteria so it isn't in the pictures. You should also make sure the pictures are not in plastic but in paper bags because that just traps moisture in too and ruins the pictures. If you open the closet in a week and they still smell, just replace the bag of charcoal. When storing pictures, wrap in brown paper bags or in brown paper as the paper will not damage them and then put them in a wooden box lined with dried Lavender flowers, which will keep the insects away as well as make everything nice smelling and dry..

Answer 4

Air+Time. They probably smell musty because of moisture. Let them air out and dry in a warm DRY place.

If you try to use a detergent on them you run the risk of damaging the picture, and adding water to the picture will just make the moisture problem worse. Look in the phone book and see if there is a place that specializes in painting and picture restoration before you use anything on it. PLEASE!

Answer 5

Wipe down with a damp cloth(not picture,frame)Then put a fan on them for a while.Air and sun would do the trick,but sun may damage them.Hope this helps.