Neglected bindings may dry into red rot, a messy powder. Removing surface dirt with the wrong cleaning product can permanently damage the coating on a magazine. Repairing tears with pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes can cause staining and deteriorated adhesives may be difficult to remove.

Water damage, which might result from leaks or floods, can be devastating to any collection, but particularly to bound journals of coated paper such as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine.

Some damage can be addressed by the collector; other damage should be examined and treated by a trained conservator.