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Tips from the EPA.gov
Emergency Drying Procedures for Water Damaged Collections
Safety Precautions:
Wear protective, latex gloves and long sleeves.
If mold is present, wear a respirator. Some mold species are toxic; if any health effects are observed, contact a doctor and/or mycologist. When cleaning items with dry mold, make sure the mold spores are drawn way from you, i.e. by the use of a vacuum cleaner. Wash your hands after handling materials with mold.
Air-drying:
Use fans to provide maximum air circulation but do not aim fans directly at the drying materials.
Absorb excess moisture using a clean sponge, paper or bath towels, etc. Do not blot on hand-written ink or fragile surfaces. Do not use printed newsprint for blotting; ink can transfer.
Air-drying Paper Documents, Maps, Posters, etc:
Paper is very fragile when wet and must be handled with care, provide adequate support.
Blot excess water off the documents.
Do not attempt to separate individual items while very wet. You may leave them in stacks no higher than 1/4” to dry.
If pages can be separated safely they can be interleaved using absorbent or separating materials, such as waxed paper. Change interleaving materials until item is dry.
Clean, unrusted window-screens stacked with bricks or wood blocks between them will provide a drying surface with maximum air circulation. If drying items on a hard surface, cover area with absorbent materials and change when wet. When items are almost dry, place them between protective sheets such as unprinted newsprint and put a light weight on them to flatten.
Note: If the item is too wet when placed under weights, you may create a micro-environment for mold.
