Q
What is PaperSaver?
A
PaperSaver™ is a spray product that neutralizes acid in paper and adds an alkaline reserve to prevent it from further deterioration with age typified by loss of strength and embrittlement. Library of Congress criteria and independent testing have shown PaperSaver™ treatment increases life expectancy up to 3.5 times over the normal life expectancy of an untreated acid document.

PaperSaver™ also “buffers” or protects the treated paper from acids in the environment and any nearby acid papers. It does not restore paper that has already deteriorated, but does arrest further deterioration of paper that has already begun to deteriorate.

PaperSaver™ treatment will arrest acid deterioration but will not restore acid based papers to their original strength properties PaperSaver is a spray product that neutralizes acid in paper to prevent it from deteriorating. PaperSaver also neutralizes acids originating in the environment and other nearby acid papers that can also lead to unwanted deterioration of paper materials.
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Q
What kind of paper can benefit from PaperSaver™ treatment?
A
Acid Papers should be treated with PaperSaver™. Such papers show a pH – a measure of acid content - levels below 7.0. In the US and Europe, virtually all methods used to pulp wood from the 1800’s thru the 1970’s yielded acid paper. Papers produced in Asia continue to be made using acid pulping methods as well.

Very thick acid paper or card stock, such as matt boards may require treatment from both sides to achieve sufficient chemical add on.
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Q
Why do I occasionally see a white residue on the surface of paper I have treated with PaperSaver™?
A
PaperSaver™ has been developed to treat a wide range of paper types. This development work has shown that the effectiveness of PaperSaver™’s active ingredients are dependant, in part, on the texture and nature of the acid paper being treated. Very glossy, highly filled or calendared or “smooth” printing papers tend to hold these active ingredients out at their surface. Likewise, very thin papers such as older style “onion skin” typing papers may not absorb the PaperSaver™ to any significant extent.

In such cases, a harmless white residue of fine alkaline powder may be visible after treatment. This residue can be wiped off readily with a damp cloth or sponge or a dry wiping pad. If left on the surface, no adverse effect will result and the powder will continue to protect the paper from acid deterioration.
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Q
What will the document look like after it is treated?
A
Treated documents will, in the vast majority of cases, look and feel the same after treatment as before treatment. They will however, now include the treating sub-micron particles absorbed into the paper sheet with the help of the carrier to neutralize acids present originally.

If the document is over sprayed, a fine, but completely innocuous, white residue may remain on the surface of the document. This residue can be safely brushed off and will, in any event, eventually dissipate. If you choose you can leave it on for additional protection. Any other change in the appearance of the document may be due to the carrier, which contains no water but appears wet on immediate application. The carrier evaporates almost instantly causing no change to the properties of the document. However, if the document is excessively dirty from exposure to elements beyond normal acid aging, the carrier may cause the dirt to shift slightly and have a “haloing” effect.
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Q
Why does my bulk product settle in the container? Why is it ALWAYS important to shake-agitate PaperSaver™ before use?
A
PaperSaver™ does not contain surfactants that could be used to suspend the sub-micron particles but which would adulterate the active ingredients in the formulation. For that reason, it is important and necessary important to SHAKE the product every time before using for effective applications.
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Q
What treating variables are important with [acid] papers?
A
Most pre 1980, and many current, common documents, like newspapers, writing papers, art papers, books and family heritage documents are “acid based” and contain high levels of acid.

Such papers may show signs of deterioration when examined in the form of crumbling and darkening and yellowing towards the edges. It is also useful to test documents for acid presence by using a pH pen. A pH pen is useful in determining the presence of acids in paper but results are not conclusive regarding the sufficiency of a PaperSaver™ application. They also leave a permanent mark on documents.

If the mark on the paper made by the PaperSaver™ pH pen shows purple, the document is alkaline and does not need treatment. (You may still want spray such an acid balanced paper to buffer and protect it from adjacent documents, mounting boards or other environmental acids.)
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Q
What about single versus double sided treatment?
A
For normal weight papers, a single sided application of PaperSaver™ will protect and enhance the mechanical properties of the paper. HOWEVER, the pH indicated on the reverse (un-sprayed) side of such a document you have treated will still register as acid even though the single sided treatment is sufficient to meet the life extension factor standards currently in use.

This is a consequence of the treatment altering the mechanical behavior of the paper - as established by extensive testing and in the research literature – although the measured pH on the back side remains acid.
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Q
How can I tell if a paper is resistant to treatment due to thickness, polish, varnish or other coatings?
A
Most pre 1970 and many current common documents, like newspapers, writing papers, art papers, books, family heritage documents are treatable. Simple inspection of the texture or sheen of a document by a layperson can offer the answer. Thicker or heavier paper can benefit from two sided treatment but if a paper is so thick as to constitute a “board” treatment is suggested primarily to protect papers stored adjacent to the “board” but might not necessarily prolong the life expectancy of such “boards” by a factor of 3.5.

Most Color photographs are coated or polished on both sides and resists treatment. Some of the coatings could be adversely affected by direct application of the carrier in PaperSaver™. Therefore, we do NOT recommend that you spray color photographs. However, most older black and white photographs are treatable on the reverse, non-coated side.
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Q
What effect, if any, could PaperSaver™ treatment have on printing inks, dyes or images which are part of treated documents?
A
None. The active ingredient of PaperSaver™ neutralizes acid and preserves the paper itself rather than the images on the paper. The nature of inks, dyes, prints and images vary greatly based on types of ink, sources and raw materials’ bases. Exposure to light and other intrusions can cause the fading of images themselves. Because PaperSaver™ is non aqueous and dries almost immediately, careful application will not damage images.

DO NOT rub or handle a treated document during or immediately after the PaperSaver™ Application as this may disturb dyes or inks. Once the paper is dry, it can be handled normally without adverse effects.
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Q
What else should I know about PaperSaver™ treatment of my documents?
A
Read and Follow the PaperSaver™ instructions!

Also, PaperSaver™ does not contain additive surfactants that might otherwise affect some papers. Surfactants suspend the active ingredient into the carrier; therefore, it is necessary and important for effect use to SHAKE the product before every application.

Also, PaperSaver™ does not contain additive Ultra Violet Light blockers that might otherwise affect some papers. Neutralizing acid stops yellowing from aging but does not prevent yellowing from sunlight. Protective UV coverings in glass frames, portfolio’s or scrapbooks are recommended.
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Q
How do I use the PaperSaver™ pH pen?
A
On the back of the paper you want to test, draw a short line with the PaperSaver™ pH Pen. In only seconds, the line will turn either purple, indicating that the paper is acid-free, and does NOT need to be sprayed, or the line will turn yellow, indicating that damaging acids are present, and you need to spray the page. The test line is permanent and will not disappear with time so test the paper in an area that will be out of sight!
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FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:
How do I use PaperSaver™?

• Use in well-ventilated area and keep away from any and all open flames, pilot lights, etc.
• Before spraying documents with PaperSaver™, use the PaperSaver™ pH pen to determine if treatment is needed.
• Shake can well before spraying.
• Place paper to be sprayed flat against cardboard or a non-absorbent surface.
• Keep spray tip six to eight inches from paper surface.
• Evenly spray until the surface appears saturated.
• It is NOT NECESSARY TO TREAT BOTH SIDES OF THE SHEET to deacidify with PaperSaver™.
• Spray evaporates quickly but do not touch or rub sheet until thoroughly dry.
• Clean PaperSaver™ over-spray with a damp cloth or light brush.
• DO NOT SPRAY coated, polished, varnished sides of papers or COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS.