N-methyl 2 pyrrolidone (NM2P) is a nonaqueous solvent for starch and flour paste. It has therefore been useful in removal of such adhesives from drawings where water-fugitive media are present. After treatment with NM2P a drawing is rinsed several times with acetone. This publication investigates strength losses suffered by several different papers after treatment with NM2P. The effect of the acetone rinsing on the strength of the paper is investigated, and its efficiency at removing NM2P is also examined using gas liquid chromatography.