Mold and Mildew Damaged Slides

If you have mold or mildew damage to your slides, they are not going to get any better no matter what you try to clean them with. You may just make the situation worse by trying to clean them. There is no way to clean this off the slides because the mold and mildew eats into the film emulsion. Just resign yourself to things not getting any better. Many times, though, it is better to have a damaged but irreplaceable slide/photo of a relative than not to have one at all.

Mold and Mildew Characteristics

Mildew:
Mildew is a specific kind of mold, usually with a flat growth habit. Mildew could be downy or powdery: Downy mildew starts as yellow spots that first become brighter in appearance and then the color changes to brown. Powdery mildew is whitish in color and that slowly turn yellowish brown and then black.

Mold:
Mold is a fungi that contains multiple identical nuclei. It grows in the form of hyphae of filaments. Mold has a fuzzy appearance and can be an orange, green, black, brown, pink or purple in color. To prevent mold in your home, you need to keep all the areas dry and moisture-free. Check the humidity levels inside the house and take measures to control it.