Storing your items is a very important part of collecting. Collecting takes a lot of money so you want to do everything you can to protect your treasures! I thought I would share my Top tips for storing your CD, cassette and vinyl goodies.
-Wrap Them Up
I cannot recommend this enough. I keep absolutely EVERYTHING wrapped in a resealable clear sleeve. You can get these on ebay, just do a quick search. This will prevent everything from stains, fingerprints and dust. All of these things will damage your items over time. It might seem like a big undertaking to go back and wrap everything up, but it is so worth it. You spend your hard-earned money on these items, so make sure you keep them protected and looking great!
-Always Keep Vinyl Records Vertical
It is very important that when you store your vinyl records, you always stand them vertically and NEVER, ever stack them horizontally on top of each other. Stacking them on top of each other will cause scuff marks and ringwear to the sleeves as the weight above pushes down on them. This can also cause warping and cracking to the records themselves. Also, when you stand them vertically on a shelf, make sure to stand them up as straight as possible. If they lean too much on each other this may cause warping as well.
-Keep Moisture Away
Humidity is not good for your items, especially sleeves and inserts. Changes in temperature can cause wrinkling on thin cd inserts. Try to keep your items away from rooms where there is water, like your bathroom. Steam from your shower can cause damage and mold. You can also buy a dehumidifier or some of those small “moisture eliminators” that trap excess water in the air if the room you keep your items in is too close to a bathroom. I buy these at my local dollar store. You’ll be amazed how much water they suck out of the air!
-Handle Your Items Carefully
I’ve seen countless Youtube videos of people showing their collections where they hold them up, and them slam them onto a hard table or tile floor on top of each other. I cringe every time. Handle them carefully and as little as possible. Always handle your discs by their edges. The natural oils on your hands can also cause fingerprints and stains so make sure you wash your hands before you touch them as well. You don’t have to wear white gloves or anything (unless you want to, but I think that’s a bit much!), but definitely don’t eat greasy food with your hands and then go grab a record. Also, be careful when you are returning your records into their sleeves. NEVER drop a record directly into a sleeve. This WILL cause seam split and may cause fine scratches on the disc from the paper sleeves. Carefully put the record back into its insert and then back into the sleeve. Never leave your records or CDs out of their sleeves and cases longer than you have to. They will attract dust that way.
-Be Careful When Cleaning Your Items
If you buy used records and CD’s, you will surely run into some that need a good cleaning at some point. Resist the temptation to use your shirt or regular napkins/towels to clean them! No matter how soft you think a cloth is, odds are it WILL leave fine scratches on your discs. Instead, invest in some cleaning tools that are specifically made for cleaning CD’s and vinyl.
-Keep Your Collection Away From Sunlight
Direct sunlight is one of the worst things you can expose your items to. Not only is the high temperature bad for them, but sunlight will FADE printing colors over time! Have you ever bought something on ebay and when it arrived, the spine looked like it was faded? Well, the sun did that because whoever owned it stored it next to a window. I’ve seen many pictures of Madonna collectors’ rooms where they have many things displayed on walls and they also have their curtains all the way open. I just shake my head every time. Keep your collections in darker rooms and keep your curtains closed as much as possible. If you don’t have your collection displayed on shelves, you can also carefully pack them into boxes and keep them in a dry area (never a basement, this is where the whole humidity thing comes in again. If you leave your items in a basement, do not be surprised if they are covered in mold when you go check on them again one day).
I know some of these things may been a bit much but if you’re a collector, you have to take steps to preserve your collection. It comes with the territory. Take pride in your collection and treat your items with care and respect! Taking a little time to consider and apply these things will go a long way in keeping your items in great condition.
-A
Albert's Madonna Collection 