The day my record collection got soaked in the basement flood

I had about 80 records stored in milk crates down in my basement, thinking they were safe. Last spring we got that big rainstorm that dumped like 6 inches in one night, and my sump pump just gave up. I came down the next morning and water was up to the bottom crate, maybe 3 inches of standing yuck. Lost about 15 albums that were in the lower crates, stuff like an original press of Rumours that my dad gave me. The sleeves were totally wrecked and some of the vinyl had that gross film on them no matter how much I wiped. I spent three days carefully drying out what I could and replacing inner sleeves, but that musty smell still haunts me. Has anyone here had luck saving water damaged records or am I just holding onto trash?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_anderson28d ago

rumours original press i'd be sick" that musty smell never really goes away once it's in the cardboard

-1

lee_reed28d ago

Right?! I picked up a copy from a thrift store once. Smelled like someone stored it in a damp basement for twenty years. Had to air it out on the porch for a week before I could even flip through it. Worth it for that original gatefold though.

the_jennifer28d ago

Ugh, that smell is so hard to get out. I feel for you.