Audio and Video tapes are subject to natural deterioration as well as damage from improper storage and disasters. They require proper storage and maintenance in order to be preserved. Exposure to heat or humidity can cause
mold, spores, debris and chemicals to stick to the tape, distort sound and image quality or even render the media useless. Wet audio and video tapes often require decontamination as well as drying. Improper drying causes tapes to deform, break or stick together. Get your wet tapes to a tape drying specialist fast. Do not play wet or moldy tapes. This can damage the tapes and contaminate your machine and the air around you with spores. Mold and fungus can be removed but this is not something you should try yourself. If you find fungus on a tape, isolate the tape to avoid spreading contamination and call an audio and video tape drying specialist.
