Quick answer
Most conversation cards can be saved if you act fast. Pat them dry, press them flat under a heavy book, and let them air out completely before storing.
Why speed matters for wet cards
Paper absorbs moisture quickly, which can cause ink smudging, paper warping, and mold growth. The sooner you start drying, the better your chances of saving the deck. Waiting even a few hours can turn a salvageable set into a sticky, unusable mess.
When to give up and replace
If cards are heavily soaked, the ink has run, or they smell musty after drying, it's time to replace them. Moldy cards aren't safe to handle, and unreadable questions defeat the purpose. A fresh deck costs about the same as a takeout meal and saves you the frustration.
Diagnosis: What to do for each type of damage
- Symptom: Cards are damp but not soaked: Pat each card gently with a clean, dry towel. Do not rub. Lay them flat on a towel, spaced apart, and place a heavy book on top. Leave for 24 hours.
- Symptom: Cards are warped or wavy: Place the warped cards between two sheets of parchment paper, then under a heavy stack of books for 48 hours. The weight flattens them as they finish drying. If the warp doesn't go away after 48 hours, the card structure is damaged. Replace that card.
- Symptom: Ink has smudged or run: Stop drying attempts. The card is no longer readable. Discard it and order a replacement deck or a single deck from a Conversation Pack that matches your set. Check your Conversation Pack – many come as separate decks, so you can replace just the damaged one.
Product facts that help
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Holiday Conversation Pack: The Holiday Conversation Pack has 120 questions in three decks of 40 cards each. If a few cards get damaged, you still have a large set to use while you replace the lost ones.
Holiday Conversation Pack
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Family Conversation Pack: The Family Conversation Pack is a boxed set of three 40-card To Go card decks on different topics. You can take just one deck on a trip, reducing the chance of the whole set getting wet.
Family Conversation Pack
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Kids Conversation Pack: The Kids Conversation Pack is a boxed set of three 40-card To Go card decks on different topics. Kids are more likely to spill drinks; having separate decks means you only replace the affected one.
