Collecting is an inseparable aspect of your identity if you’re like the majority of collectors. It’s the culmination of a lifetime of searching, bargaining, and heartbreak. A thousand dollars or just pennies may be worth nothing to you, but it’s precious to me. It’s important to take the time to carefully preserve your treasures before you move them into storage, even if you won’t be seeing them for months or years at a time. Stor-storage It’s professionals have put together this guide to assist you in getting started. We’ve gathered a collection of basic storage suggestions for collectibles, as well as guides for specific items like antiques, vintage apparel, comic books, and more. Read on for some expert advice on storing your collectibles, and then contact us at Number 1 Van Lines to rent a storage space!
Tips and tricks for storing your collectibles
Expertise and common sense are necessary for storing valuables. We’ll begin with the latter in order to make sure you’re up to speed on the essentials. While each collectible has its own set of specialized storage standards, there are certain basic recommendations that any collector may utilize to maintain collectibles in perfect condition while they are being packed and stored. Have a look at some fundamental guidelines for collecting storage.
1. Reduce the clutter in order to save up space and money
Many property owners keep valuables with other items. Although this might work for a while, as collections increase, consolidated storage may become an issue. Space limits can lead to clutter, which makes accessing valuables difficult. Begin by purging unnecessary items from your home. If you’re a collector, you’re not going to part with your items easily. Instead, go through your stuff and see what may be donated or sold. The money you get from selling goods may be saved or used to buy more items for your collection.
If you can’t sell, give. Most cities have various organizations and donation centers willing to accept your items. (You may also get a tax break.) No matter how you get rid of your unwanted goods, you’ll discover that having less stuff will make keeping your collections easier. If you have some bigger items like pianos, for example, our piano movers will gladly help you relocate them to another space.
2. Keep your collectibles away from the sun
Every day, the sun shines, albeit in varying degrees. Direct sunshine is detrimental to collectibles. In the sun, items like antique furniture, vintage clothes, and paper items like comic books and trading cards can fade and dry out. It may also warp vinyl and degrade excellent wine. To avoid this, store your belongings in a dark spot like a basement, garage, or room with curtains. Self-storage containers are also a wonderful alternative because they are essentially sun-proof. If you want to move some of your collectibles to a new location, like antique furniture, for example, you may use our specialized moving services so that everything goes smoothly.
3. Use the right packaging supplies
Make sure your treasures are properly packed and stored before putting them on display or in storage. There are a few items that every collector should have in their arsenal when it comes to packing and storing their valuables. For storing valuables, these are the packing essentials you’ll need:
- moving boxes
- bubble wrap
- sheets and blankets
- plastic sleeves
- tape, markers, and tie-downs
4. Invest in a climate-controlled storage unit
Collectors know that almost all of their wares are environmentally conscious. Sudden climate change has the potential to drastically alter the condition of everything from comic books to classic vehicles. There are several materials that are vulnerable to warping and degradation if they are exposed to excessive heat. Frost causes materials to shatter because the expansion of ice causes all kinds of things to move with it, including water. It doesn’t matter if the weather is warm or cold; high humidity is harmful to antiques. Mold, fungus, and other undesirable microorganisms can flourish in an environment that is far too moist.
Collectibles can become fragile if they are kept in a dry environment. Temperature, humidity, and dryness are all factors that must be considered while storing your valuables in a climate-controlled environment. Feel free to contact storage in Canada and inquire about the conditions and the right type of storage unit for your items.
How to Store Vinyl Records?
Because of the recent revival of vinyl as a popular medium, antique vinyl records have become collectors’ goods of great interest. It’s crucial to maintain vinyl records in the appropriate conditions in order to preserve the oldies for future generations. The Library of Congress employs these settings to maintain their large vinyl collection at 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 35 percent humidity. The Library of Congress also recommends that vinyl records be stored upright and that the same-sized recordings be placed next to each other in order to preserve the quality of both the sleeves and the records themselves. Polyurethane sleeves can be placed inside paper sleeves as a precautionary measure. Avoid touching any part of the vinyl record that isn’t marked. Finally, keep your playback equipment clean to avoid contaminating your recordings.
Storing Comic Books and Trading Cards
Many children’s earliest loves are comic books and trading cards. And these collectibles are prized possessions for collectors as well. Comic books and trading cards are mementos of a bygone era because of the wealth of information contained inside their pages. Comic book and trading card collectors should take all essential efforts to ensure the long-term preservation of these delicate artifacts. There are a few things to keep in mind while organizing comic books and trading cards. Investing in a binder with clear sleeve pages is the most effective method to keep huge trading card collections. To keep them safe, you should sleeve your comics and keep them in a box or a cabinet made just for them. Both collectibles thrive in cold, dry environments where temperatures are just below room temperature and humidity levels are approximately 50%. Storing your collectibles the right way is very important.