Receipt Paper: Why It Fades and How to Restore It? 2024 Comprehensive Guide

A small receipt paper is a faithful record of a transaction, a powerful voucher for tax reimbursement, a transparent and legitimate proof of business activities, a solid shield to help us resolve disputes, and may also be a precious record of unforgettable moments.

However, the erosion of time gradually fades the receipt paper. When we unearth the dusty receipt paper again, it may have become blurry, with illegible handwriting, or even unusable.

Do you want to know why receipt paper fades? Are you eager to restore these faded receipt papers?

Don’t worry, keep reading. This article will provide the most authoritative explanations and the best practices for restoring faded receipt paper in 2024.

I. Why Does Receipt Paper Fade?

Receipts are printed on thermal paper, which we commonly refer to as receipt paper. The fading of receipt paper primarily stems from the working principle of thermal paper.

The surface of thermal paper is coated with a layer of chemicals, including:

• Leuco Dye: A colorless or lightly colored dye that changes color when heated, producing visible images or text. Common leuco dyes include colorless phenolic compounds and colorless or lightly colored spiro compounds.
• Color Developer: A substance that reacts with the leuco dye to change its color. Common color developers include Bisphenol A (BPA), S (BPS), or other phenolic compounds. The developer reacts with the leuco dye upon heating to produce colored compounds.
• Sensitizer: These substances help lower the temperature at which the color change reaction occurs, allowing thermal paper to develop color at lower temperatures. Common sensitizers include fatty acid esters or other organic acid esters.
• Protective Coating: To extend the life of thermal paper, a protective coating is often applied to the surface. This coating protects the paper from moisture, grease, plastic, and other environmental factors. The protective coating often includes waxes, resins, or other polymeric materials.

When thermal paper passes through the heating element of a printer, the coating undergoes a chemical reaction, revealing images and text. However, this chemical coating is very sensitive to light, heat, and humidity and can easily fade under adverse environmental conditions.

Schematic diagram of how thermal paper works

Environmental Factors Affecting Receipt Paper:

• Temperature: High temperatures accelerate the chemical reactions in thermal paper, causing the receipt to fade quickly. In high-temperature environments, the text and images on the receipt will gradually disappear.
• Humidity: Excessive humidity causes the paper to absorb moisture, affecting the stability of the coating and accelerating the fading process.
• Light: UV light is one of the main reasons for thermal paper fading. Prolonged exposure to sunlight makes receipt paper increasingly blurred.

Chemical Factors Affecting Receipt Paper:

Receipt paper is susceptible to damage from chemicals, such as oils from our hands, cleaners, cosmetics, etc., which can break down the chemical coating on thermal paper, causing it to fade faster.

II. How to Restore Faded Receipt Paper?

The following are the latest tested methods for restoring faded receipt paper as of 2024. However, these methods may not always be effective due to variations in different receipts’ composition, condition, and storage age.

Additionally, some methods may cause irreversible damage if they fail, so proceed cautiously! For particularly important receipts, seeking professional help is often the best option.

Before we get into the methods, remember: Never use an iron to flatten wrinkled receipt paper!

Method 1: Heating the Thermal Paper (Rating: ☆☆☆)

An old method suggests using a hair dryer to heat the receipt paper.

Procedure: Use household devices like a hair dryer, oven, or incubator to heat the back of the receipt paper. After a few minutes, the faded numbers, text, or images may reappear.

However, this method is not highly recommended. Although thermal paper develops color with heat, reheating the faded paper typically does not restore the original content and may further damage the paper or cause the information to be completely lost.

Sometimes, this method will work just as well as the video below:

But most of the time, what you get by using a hair dryer to heat it up is the following:

Failed Case of Heating Receipt Paper 01

If you overheat, you even get the following result:

Failed Case of Heating Receipt Paper 02

Therefore, the recovery method of heating the Receipt Paper is still controversial and high-risk in 2024, and it is recommended that this method is not used on very valuable Receipt Paper to avoid incalculable losses.

Method 2: Scanning and Digital Restoration (Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆)

This is one of the most recommended methods.

Scan the receipt as a color photo if the paper is still white (not yellow, brown, or black). Open the image in photo editing software (like Adobe Photoshop) and adjust certain settings (brightness, contrast, and saturation) to create a negative image. This can enhance the image. Use available tools in the software for this.

You can follow the video below:

Amazing, isn’t it?

Alternatively, mobile apps like LightX, PicsArt, or Tabscanner can adjust the contrast and brightness of receipt photos, making the faded text more readable. After obtaining a relatively clear electronic image, you can further restore the paper receipt by:

1. Saving the image and finding someone with a laser engraving machine.
2. Using the laser engraving machine to “engrave” the text on the original receipt with very light parameters can reactivate the text on the thermal paper without burning it.

Method 3: Using Chemical Reagents (Rating: ☆☆)

You can try chemical developers like ethanol, lemon juice, vinegar, or ammonia. Apply a small amount of the chemical to a cotton swab or soft cloth and gently wipe the faded area. Be careful, as improper use can damage the paper or cause discoloration. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area first.

1. Using Ethanol:

Ethanol (alcohol) can slightly improve the text on faded thermal paper.

Materials Needed:

• Ethanol (70% – 90% concentration)
• A cotton swab or soft cloth
• Gloves

Steps:

• Wear gloves to protect your hands.
• Dip a cotton swab or cloth in a small amount of ethanol.
• Gently wipe the faded area without too much force to avoid damaging the paper.
• Observe the improvement. If effective, continue gently wiping the entire faded area.

Caution:

• Ethanol can make the paper brittle, so handle it gently.
• Ethanol only partially restores color with limited effect.

2. Using Citric Acid:

Citric acid can have a mild restorative effect on faded thermal paper.

Materials Needed:

• Citric acid powder
• Water
• A cotton swab or soft cloth

Steps:

• Dissolve a small amount of citric acid powder in water to make a dilute solution.
• Dip a cotton swab or cloth in the citric acid solution.
• Gently wipe the faded area, applying even pressure.
• Observe the improvement. If effective, continue gently wiping.

Caution:

• The citric acid solution should be diluted to prevent damaging the paper.
• After use, dry the paper to avoid moisture.

Method 4: Ultraviolet Light Exposure (Rating: ☆☆☆)

Prepare a UV light source and find a dark or dimly lit environment. Expose the faded thermal receipt to UV light for a few seconds (or minutes). Avoid overheating the receipt, as it may further damage the paper. Observe any improvements.

You can look at the video by Vitalii Tereshchuk, which might inspire you.

Method 5: Seeking Professional Help (Rating: ☆☆☆☆)

Consulting local professional receipt restoration services is always a viable option. These services usually have advanced techniques and equipment for more effective restoration. However, this can be costly and may lead to disputes if the service is not as professional as claimed.

Method 6: Requesting a Replacement Receipt from the Original Vendor (Rating: ☆☆☆)

Though it may seem difficult, contacting the original vendor for a replacement receipt can be a solution, especially if the original is severely faded and almost beyond restoration. A phone call or a direct visit might yield surprising results.

III. Expert Tips for Prevent Receipt Paper from Fading

Before diving into this topic, I must share a sad fact: thermal receipts will fade over time, no matter what. However, you don’t need to be too disheartened. We still have ways to delay the fading of receipt paper and use technical methods for long-term preservation.

1. Scanning and Printing

This is undoubtedly the best practice. It won’t fade and can withstand almost any impact.

Copy/scan/photograph the receipt, print it as close to the original size as possible, and keep the printout with or beside the original. This way, you have the physical receipt and a record of its contents.

Avoid laminating thermal receipts, as most print shops use heat lamination, which can turn the receipt black and unreadable.

Example: The left side shows the original receipt, while the right side shows the printed copy, looking almost identical.

Scan and Print the Receipt Paper

2. Trace the text on the receipt paper

This method is time-consuming but worthwhile if you emotionally attach it to the receipt paper.

Use a 0.2 or 0.38 gel pen to trace over the text, then dry and laminate it. (Note: We don’t recommend laminating untreated receipt paper as it can accelerate fading.)

Example: A Chinese user shared their traced train ticket (made of thermal paper), which looks pretty cool, right?

Trace Over the Text on the Receipt Paper

3. Proper Storage

Thermal receipt paper will fade over time, no matter what.

However, you can extend its life by storing it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and high temperatures. Minimize contact with oils, cleaning agents, and other chemicals. When handling receipts, use gloves or tweezers to avoid direct contact.

If considering protective sleeves, PVC clear frosted loose-leaf bags might help. These are commonly available at local retail stores/supermarkets or online platforms like Amazon.

Organize receipt paper using PVC transparent frosted binder pockets.

4. Creating Electronic Backups

Many receipts contain Bisphenol A, a toxic substance that can affect health with frequent contact. Thus, we recommend taking photos of important receipts for preservation.

Scan important receipts into electronic files and store them on reliable storage devices like cloud or hard drives. This prevents fading and provides easy access and use.

5. Choosing the Best Receipt Paper Supplier

Most people overlook the importance of choosing a good receipt paper supplier for their business. A thoughtful choice of a supplier can significantly impact your business operations. Sunavin’s thermal paper rolls are always a top choice if you want high-quality, long-lasting thermal paper products. Additionally, if you’re looking to maintain top performance in your thermal printers, Sunavin also offers high-quality thermal printheads, ensuring your printer operates efficiently with crisp, clear prints every time.

How have you tried restoring or preserving your receipts? Do you have any valuable experiences to share? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

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