Because paper is vulnerable to environmental threats such as mold, insect attack, and sharp fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity, avoid basement or attic storage. In addition, items that are brittle or already damaged can be easily handled in a sturdy folder without expensive conservation treatment. Certain kinds of objects require special care in storage. Modern prints and photographs are prized in part for their unblemished surface qualities. They require storage materials that are themselves especially smooth.
Photographs also have a tendency to tarnish, since their imagery contains silver.
They require storage materials that are inert to, or cannot interact chemically with silver. Photographs may also be bound into albums or scrapbooks. These and other bound volumes may be displayed on shelves or stored in acid-free boxes if they are fragile. Shelved volumes should be carefully dusted with light-weight brushes. Do not spray cleaning cloths or brushes with cleaning solutions or aerosols since they can leave deposits on the volumes that may cause staining.