NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS: Friend or Foe?

Most people, at some point in their life, save a newspaper clipping.  Perhaps your child was the star of your local paper for a science experiment.  Or, the your teen's tennis team is heading to the state finals.  There are even sad events we may clip -- a national tragedy, an obituary, or details of a car accident.  The reason we clip these newspaper article is because they document a period in time that for whatever reason, we want to remember.  Unfortunately, many people don't consider the fact that the very article they wish to keep, is already starting to slowly deteriorate seconds after coming off the press.

What do you do?  Continue to clip and accept this as the way it is? Absolutely not.  With the help of modern technology, your newspaper clippings can be preserved, so that they will never be yellow, brittle, and faded.  With a little preventive maintenance, your newspaper clippings will be able to be enjoy by future generations.  Here are your options:

1. Many family historians and scrapbookers swear by a product called Archival Mist. Spray Archival Mist on your clippings and the solution will neutralize the acid in the paper. This product can be cost a bit more than the other options listed here, but if you wish to preserve a document in original state, Archival Mist is the way to go. Check your local or online scrapbook store or discount chains such as Wal-mart to purchase this extraordinary product.

2. Recently, the popular spray paint company, Krylon, has came out with their own product that neutralizes the acid in paper called "Make It Acid Free". It is reported that Krylon's product is much more cost efficient than the above mentioned Archival Mist. Check for this product at stores selling spray paint.

3. Scanners can be found on many home desktops and with one, you can print an acid-free copy of your newspaper article. To do so, simply clip the article and scan into your computer. Then, using acid-free paper, print a copy of the article. The results are fantastic and usually look exactly like the actual clipping.

4. If you don't have a scanner, you're still in luck. Take your newspaper clippings to your local print shop and have them copied onto acid-free paper.

5. Another idea for deacidfying your newspaper clippings is to use the following homemade solution. It is a bit more complicated than the above options, but some like this method best. Please be sure to this on an unimportant document first, as I assume no responsibility for any damage caused by using or misusing this formula.

Recipe for preserving old newspaper clippings:

• One capful milk of magnesia
• One bottle of club soda

Pour one capful of milk of magnesia into the bottle of club soda. Carefully replace the cap and SLOWLY invert to mix the two fluids. Store this overnight in the fridge. Pour the new solution into a glass cake pan. Gently put a clipping into the solution for 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to tear or poke holes in the fragile paper. Carefully place between WHITE paper towels to extract most of the solution. Transfer and store overnight between two pages of white blotter paper with books used on top for weights. This method is not for manuscripts or letters as the ink will bleed.

So there you have it. Take some time and find those newspaper clippings that you have tucked away and get them prepared for the future. Even if you clipped them years ago and you find that they are already starting to deteriorate, it's not too late. Stop their aging by using one of the methods above.

© 2003 Brandie Valenzuela