How to Get Rid of Mold on Collectable Stamps

Arrange loose stamps face-down in a clear, glass casserole dish and cover with the second dish, or place the dish upside down over pages of moldy stamps mounted in an album.

Set the stamps encased in glass in a windowsill or outside in direct sunlight on a warm (65-70 F) day. Light helps kill mold, although excessive heat can cause stamps to curl and fade. Setting the stamps under glass will prevent them from blowing away, while speeding up the drying process

Wait for the stamps to dry completely before turning face up.

Use a cotton swab such as a Q-tip to hold a stamp to a flat surface while wiping away dried mold with a second Q-tip in your other hand. Work slowly and methodically to brush away as much dried mold as possible.

Move a single stamp away from the rest of the collection and hold it to a flat surface with a clean cotton swab, using a hand-held vacuum or cleaner with nozzle attachment to remove any remaining mold. Hold the stamp securely to a hard, flat surface to prevent it from being sucked up into the vacuum cleaner. Do not place stamp on a towel or any soft surface that could cause the cotton swab to puncture the collectible.

Place stamps face down on a hard, flat surface when completely dry, then set a second hard, flat surface over the collectables to flatten them and remove any curling from the drying process. Books, chessboards or two smooth wood planks make good surfaces for flattening the dried stamps.