This is what happens when the fridge isn't on after 3 years

MikeM1977 · Aug 29, 2016

I temporarily gave up analog photography since having kids 8 years ago. 3 years ago I moved into a new home. Since I wasn't active and during the hustle/bustle of moving, the film/paper fridge never got plugged in. Well I opened it up today and saw this (along with a horrid smell):

Yikes! There goes at least a couple hundred worth of film/paper (and the fridge itself).

FWIW, I developed my first roll of film in many years tonight. A 12-year old bottle of Rodinal worked just fine for developing the roll of 120 HP5+. The old Speed Fixer concentrate seemed to work. The bottle of Ilford PQ Universal, that I bought 3 years ago (I did set up the enlarger at the new house and used it once as a test) completely failed when attempting to develop a test strip of paper (I had one pack that wasn't stored in the fridge). Interesting.

wiltw · Aug 29, 2016

D'ya think any of the film is still good, the mildew is on the outside of the box, isn't it?!

MikeM1977 · Aug 29, 2016

wiltw said:
D'ya think any of the film is still good, the mildew is on the outside of the box, isn't it?!

I was sort of wondering the same thing. Most of that film is completely sealed. The basement where this was tucked away never really gets warmer than 70 degrees.

Ai Print · Aug 29, 2016

If all is still foil wrapped, I bet the black and white is fine. I check on my fridge / freezer regularly, it's contents is insured for $25K.

Sirius Glass · Aug 29, 2016

It will be the same as if it were not stored in a refrigerator for three years and kept at 70 degrees.

williaty · Aug 29, 2016

I've had a fridge do the same thing and the film look the same way. Eventually got a respirator on and carried the fridge outside. I stripped all the cardboard and paper away and then wiped down each canister or envelope with bleach and let them dry. Put them in Ziplocks sorted by type and just stuffed them into a different fridge. With them now being ~10 years out of date, the B&W just has a visibly elevated Fb+F but the color film's color balance has gone to hell.

mehguy · Aug 29, 2016

I would certainly try shooting some of the film thats in there. Some of the old AGFA stuff would be pretty neat to shoot on.

MartinP · Aug 29, 2016

This might illustrate another benefit of sealing film and paper before putting it in a fridge or freezer. As well as allowing condensation to form on the sealed bag instead of the material's packaging when you bring it out for use, an impervious layer will also reduce the impact of 'accidental' damage - like this or like the power going off while you are on holiday and flooding the freezer.

Some of the sheet-film at least (and any 120 if you have it) will be in sealed packs inside the cardboard, so you might get lucky! Good luck.

Michael W · Aug 29, 2016

Sell it as is on ebay as Lomo film - you'll make a fortune.

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 29, 2016

If you're going to leave a fridge or freezer unplugged then prop the door(s) open so all the moisture evaporates.

Vaughn · Aug 29, 2016

Your photography stinks...

Edited to answer ONF below: I once made some carbon prints using some gelatin that had gone a little moldy -- I don't know about the images, but the prints stunk...

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 29, 2016

Why... because the image is fuzzy and oddly colored? I thought some people preferred it that way. Well, at least the fridge is analog.

StephenT · Aug 29, 2016

That looks like black mold. It could be quite toxic. Don't breathe it. Use gloves to clean the boxes. Just be careful.

It could be harmless to humans, but don't take any chances. I'm not a microbiologist, but I know some black molds are very naughty when it comes to human biochemistry.

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 29, 2016

StephenT said:
That looks like black mold. It could be quite toxic. Don't breathe it. Use gloves to clean the boxes. Just be careful.

It could be harmless to humans, but don't take any chances. I'm not a microbiologist, but I know some black molds are very naughty when it comes to human biochemistry.

OT WARNING: At Ft Sam Houston, I worked for longer than two years in a building infested with black mold. It was running down most of the walls and the bathroom ceiling was completely black with it... not even a square inch of paint showing. It wasn't until recently I learned this may be what caused my neurological illness. I'm seriously considering suing the crap out of them.

AgX · Aug 29, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
It will be the same as if it were not stored in a refrigerator for three years and kept at 70 degrees.

Except for the odour.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 29, 2016

Old-N-Feeble said:
OT WARNING: At Ft Sam Houston, I worked for longer than two years in a building infested with black mold. It was running down most of the walls and the bathroom ceiling was completely black with it... not even a square inch of paint showing. It wasn't until recently I learned this may be what caused my neurological illness. I'm seriously considering suing the crap out of them.

Not so much a neurological threat as a threat to the lungs, and especially in people with weakened immune systems or those suffering from asthma, where exposure to mould can lead to invasive aspergillosis. Any mould can lead to serious illness in vulnerable people (e.g. those who are immunosuppressed). Fungal spores are everywhere and anyplace e.g. air conditioning, compost piles (worst when enclosed), hospitals and laundry facilities. Mould of any type is most concentrated and hazardous when it is prolific and active (such as covering walls, growing on old film boxes and the like). The best way of erradicating growths is by enclosed incineration. Irrespective of how valuable one thinks old film is, if it is infected with fungus, get rid of it.

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 29, 2016

Poisson Du Jour said:
Not so much a neurological threat as a threat to the lungs, and especially in people with weakened immune systems or those suffering from asthma, where exposure to mould can lead to invasive aspergillosis. Any mould can lead to serious illness in vulnerable people (e.g. those who are immunosuppressed). Fungal spores are everywhere and anyplace e.g. air conditioning, compost piles (worst when enclosed), hospitals and laundry facilities. Mould of any type is most concentrated and hazardous when it is prolific and active (such as covering walls, growing on old film boxes and the like). The best way of erradicating growths is by enclosed incineration. Irrespective of how valuable one thinks old film is, if it is infected with fungus, get rid of it.

This is just one link of many... http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/mold-linked-parkinson-disease-study-article-1.1514655

BTW, I've always had a very strong immune system. I never get colds or flu but do have some allergy issues. Parkinson's has never been recorded in my family history.

Ft Sam tore down that building among others because they couldn't remediate the toxic environments of those "significantly historically important" buildings.

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 29, 2016

So... if that is toxic mold on the film then it's best to burn the lot and dispose of the fridge. Believe this when I tell you... you don't wan't to end up like me.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 29, 2016

Old-N-Feeble said:
So... if that is toxic mold on the film then it's best to burn the lot and dispose of the fridge.

I wouldn't play around film or old fridges that have obvious fungal growth. Put is all in a sealed plastic bag and nuke it.

Sirius Glass · Aug 29, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
It will be the same as if it were not stored in a refrigerator for three years and kept at 70 degrees.

AgX said:
Except for the odour.

That sux!

Ronald Moravec · Aug 29, 2016

Be sure to stick that moldy stuff in the camera and see if you can not contaminate that also.

MikeM1977 · Aug 29, 2016

Thanks for the warnings. I think I'll just dispose of the entire fridge. Hopefully it is sealed enough right now to not have spread harmful mold in my home...now you've got me worried!

StephenT · Aug 30, 2016

Mike, I think that is the wise decision - get rid of the whole thing. It could be most hazardous. Most homeowner's insurance will only cover up to $10,000 in mold remediation damage. The reason being, it could take over the whole house in the worst of scenarios and result in a total loss. Thus, never leave home for an extended period of time without cutting off your water supply.

M Carter · Aug 30, 2016

MikeM1977 said:
Thanks for the warnings. I think I'll just dispose of the entire fridge. Hopefully it is sealed enough right now to not have spread harmful mold in my home...now you've got me worried!

Unless there's Ekatalure in there. Grab the Ektalure!

MikeM1977 · Sep 5, 2016

This actually turned out to be a tragedy. I already own a 3M P100 mold remediation respirator, so I decided to put it on and some thick gloves to see if any of that B&W film was salvageable.

To my horror, 3 of the film boxes were actually stuffed full with developed 4x5 work from 12-15 years ago :-( A mix of color negatives, color transparencies, and B&W. Mostly stuff I hadn't gotten around to printing or scanning since I was a graduate student at the time with limited time and money. Fantastic stuff. Shots of my young wife, shots of fantastic landscapes, and more. All destroyed. A significant fraction of all my work. Feels like I've been punched in the stomach. I have no clue why I would have put those boxes in that fridge.

This is what happens when the fridge isn't on after 3 years

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