Whether it's from a major flood or from a glass, water on paper is a bad thing. Important documents are difficult to replace and there should be an attempt to salvage these so that they can be used while trying to obtain new ones. But, how does one become a document drying expert in the first place? Let's look at some of the things that can be done to save these wonderful pieces of paper.



Air drying is a technique that is commonly used among paper material drying experts. This is simply leaving the paper on a rack or hung up on a clothesline. This is the most non-invasive method, but will produce a document that is hard as a rock. The longer the drying takes, the more time the fibers have to absorb the water. For documents that are heat sensitive, this may be the only way save these.

Using a clothes iron for document drying can also be an option to think about. Put the iron on a low temperature and use a barrier of a clean piece of paper. The paper will protect the iron from getting ink on it. The benefit of using the iron technique is that the document drying is going to be flat. Flat papers are great for this as they are easy to get the entire surface dry as opposed to a book that can hold moisture in the seams.

There is another tool in the drying arsenal that is not usually thought of as often. Nearly every home has one of these and most people know how to use them rather well. I am talking about the microwave oven. It may seem very unconventional and odd at first to dry papers in this manner, but it can work. Microwaves work by vibrating water molecules causing them to gain heat. As they heat up, water vapor forms and leaves whatever is cooking. This is why if some food is left in there too long, it gets dry and hard. The side effect is exactly what we are after here. Start by going slow and low. Low power will ensure that the paper isn't getting hit with too much energy. Go with 15 seconds on 75% power. Turn the paper over after every cycle until it is dry. The bad thing about this way is that it takes a lot of time and can shrink.

When thinking about document drying it is good to remember that the papers may not be the same as before the water damage. Original dry papers are always better than old damaged ones. If you have some documents that are beyond repair, try to salvage them as best as possible while new ones are ordered. However, as with anything, prevention is the best policy. Instead of being a restoration expert, be a prevention expert. Use a waterproof container to hold valuable papers. Those documents that can be laminated, such as social security cards and birth certificates, should be. Having these important papers laminated now, can actually be cheaper than having them replaced later on.