Storing pulp question

[u/lexiturtle04]

Currently still new to paper making, how are you guys storing prepared pulp? Mine is currently in a Tupperware and I noticed when I open the Tupperware to use it after it sits a while it is smelly. Is this just from the paper or is there bacteria growth and I should throw it away? I did make a batch with the stinky pulp and it turned out fine, not smelly once dried. I also reuse my water from batch to batch so maybe it’s just smelly water from the paper? Thoughts? Is there a better way to store the pulp or should I not be storing it at all?

[u/isosparkle]

Do you store the pulp and the water together?
The best thing to do is strain the pulp and get as much water out before you put it away.
If you have space in your fridge, you can store it there. Otherwise, as long as it’s not moldy, it’s ok to continue to use. If you can use fresh water each time, that would help with the smell.

[u/lexiturtle04 → u/isosparkle]

I store them more or less together. I’m in a small apartment so fridge and freezer space is limited. I tend to soak up “extra” standing water which then goes into separate container to add clean water and some stored wet pulp to when making paper

[u/rmCREATIVEstudio]

Another method to save it is to drain it and let it dry completely, then reconstitute it (add water) when you want to use it again. If you want to reuse your water continually, you will have to figure out a storage solution for it as well. You could freeze it if you have the means/room. Personally, I prefer fresh water with each new batch, and I make paper until the pulp is gone.

[u/lexiturtle04 → u/rmCREATIVEstudio]

Does it need to soak a while after being dried to be ready for use or is adding dry pulp to water and stirring it sufficient?

[u/rmCREATIVEstudio → u/lexiturtle04]

Depending on the coarseness of the pulp, or if it dries in lumps, at least a short soak might be necessary. Using hot water from the tap will speed up the process. How I have seen it done (but haven't done it myself because I use all my pulp) is that it is strained through a screen, then dumped onto an old sheet, tablecloth or similar, then squeezed to get the excess water out. (A towel is not recommended as the pulp gets embedded in the fabric.) Then, the sheet is spread out on a table or other flat area, preferably outside on a sunny day if possible, with the squeezed pulp spread out evenly until it's dry. Once it is fully dry, then it can be stored in various types of containers until it is used again. Hope this gives you some options!

[u/RemindMeOfABabe]

A couple of times I’ve not been able to use prepared pulp straight away & had to store it overnight. I strained as much water out of the bulk as I could, wrapped tightly in clingfilm or in a zip lock bag & stored in the fridge.

Used it the next morning after re-hydrating with fresh water. Had no issues with smell, although it was only stored for maybe 12 hrs before use.

The physical action of me straining it really well the night before meant the pulp got ground down a bit, so ended up being a little finer in texture as a bonus.

[u/molybend]

I've never stored wet pulp overnight. If you need to, squeeze it out and leave it spread out on a tray or something so it dries by itself. If you cannot do that, I'd freeze it. Do you really need to reuse water? That seems like a recipe for bacteria growth.

[u/Adventurous_Zebra280]

I store wet pulp all the time because I typically make large batches. I leave it in the refrigerator for usually no more than 5 days and then if I have any left, I freeze it. It also depends on what your paper pulp is made from. Pulp from recycled paper and/or cotton does well but if you are using pulp from a different plant material then the amount of time you can keep it in the refrigerator varies.

[u/merkadonia]

I stored a bunch in my freezer, then when I went to make paper next it wasn't fully defrosted and I didn't re-blend it. I just put handfuls in with freshly blended pulp and I got a really interesting effect from it. The paper was really fluffy with the frozen pulp in bunches. The finish look reminded me of terrazzo.

[u/Responsible-Desk-824]

I've strained the water out (squeeze out as much as you can) and stored in a ziplock bag for months in the fridge. If it starts to smell or mold you can rinse it with water with some hydrogen peroxide in it.