Clean Mould on VHS Tapes | Recovery Service

A: Cleaning mould from a VHS tape should always be done with great care, as the tape inside is delicate and easily damaged. If you try to remove the mould yourself, you risk scratching the magnetic film or spreading mould spores further. The safest way to clean mould from VHS tapes is to have them professionally restored. At Supaphoto, we use specialist cleaning and digitisation techniques to gently remove mould, stabilise the tape, and safely recover your recordings. Once cleaned, your tapes are digitised to preserve your memories permanently in a secure, digital format.

A: It’s generally not recommended to clean mouldy VHS tapes yourself. Household cleaning products or alcohol-based solutions can easily damage the tape’s magnetic coating and make the footage unplayable. In addition, mould spores can be harmful to your health if inhaled. A professional VHS tape cleaning and digitisation service like Supaphoto has the proper equipment to remove mould safely and thoroughly. We clean, treat, and digitise your tapes so your recordings can be enjoyed again — without risking further damage or contamination.

A: Mould forms on VHS tapes when they’re stored in warm, damp, or poorly ventilated areas such as lofts, garages, or basements. High humidity encourages mould spores to grow on the tape’s surface and inside the cassette housing. Over time, this can cause the tape to stick, degrade, or become unreadable. To prevent this, VHS tapes should always be stored in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight and moisture. If your tapes already show signs of mould, it’s important to have them professionally cleaned and digitised before further damage occurs.

A: Yes — inserting a mouldy VHS tape into your VCR can contaminate the machine’s internal components and spread mould to other tapes. Even a small amount of mould can leave residue on the VCR heads, leading to playback issues or permanent damage. That’s why we strongly advise against playing a mouldy tape. Instead, let Supaphoto professionally clean and transfer your VHS tapes to digital format. Our process ensures that both your tapes and your equipment stay safe and protected.

A: Professional VHS cleaning and restoration is a careful, multi-step process. At Supaphoto, we start by inspecting each cassette to determine the severity of the mould. We then open the casing in a controlled environment and use specialist tools and cleaning solutions designed for magnetic media. Once the mould is safely removed, the tape is dried, tested, and prepared for digitisation. Finally, your footage is transferred to a digital format, ensuring your memories are preserved in high quality and protected from future mould growth.

A: Yes, in most cases, mouldy VHS tapes can still be saved and digitised — as long as the mould hasn’t completely eaten through the tape’s magnetic layer. At Supaphoto, we’ve successfully recovered recordings from tapes that were heavily affected by mould or damp storage conditions. After professional cleaning and preparation, we transfer your restored video to USB, DVD, or digital download. This not only preserves your footage but also ensures that the original mould will never return.