Common treatments for paper artifacts include washing to reduce or remove acidic stains such as water tide lines, foxing stains (brown spots often seen in antique prints and drawings), acidic burns or discoloration in the paper from old framing materials and stains from old glues. Washing treatments not only remove damaging and distracting stains and darkening from the paper, but they also leave the paper in much better condition by removing harmful elements from the sheet.

Many artifacts have old pressure sensitive tapes attached to them such as scotch tapes and masking tapes. These tapes become darkened and embrittled over the years and can be difficult for the owner to remove without tearing or thinning the paper. These old tapes, in most cases, can be safely removed from the paper and their stains removed as well.  

Documents are often folded and over time these folds break and become tears. These precious and fragmenting artifacts can be supported with Japanese tissues to hold them together and preserve a piece of family history.  Paper losses such as punctures and holes can be filled with matching papers. Pigment losses in these areas can be replaced. Flaking and unstable media can be consolidated and mold can be removed.

Antique artifacts were often glued down to cardboard and other boards that cause the paper to become darker and embrittled over time. In many cases it is necessary to remove these damaging materials and glues from the paper and possibly replace the backing with archival support tissues if required. Removing these damaging materials will not only help preserve important artifacts, but can also breathe new life into a piece that has been damaged by age and neglect.