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How To Properly Store Vinyl Records

28 February 2017

Jessica Franklin

Vinyl records are a form of old media that provide a higher quality sound than digital methods of music storage, but come with the drawback of taking up a great deal of space. If you want to free up storage space within your home, you may want to consider renting a self-storage unit to store your vinyl record music collection in. However, before you move your music collection into storage, you need to make sure that you properly prepare your records so that they do not become damaged while in a storage unit.

Proper Packing Techniques

When packing your records for long-term storage, you need to make sure that you store your records vertically, with the opening of the sleeves facing upwards. This ensures that the records themselves do not warp, which can make them unplayable, and also that dirt and dust has a harder time entering into the sleeve, where it can scratch the surface of the record. You should also look for heavy duty cardboard or plastic boxes that are appropriately sized for storing records vertically, as boxes that are too small will cause bending, while boxes that are too big can allow shifting and damage during transport. You should pack the box to the point where the records are snugly fitted together and can't shift around, but where you can also take an individual record out of the box fairly easily. Tighter than that, and you risk cracking individual records.

Storage Locations

Beyond packing your boxes of records properly, you should also ensure that you store the boxes in an ideal location within your storage unit to avoid damage. Boxes of records should be stored off of the ground, on a shelf or table, to protect against any potential moisture damage that can seep up through the floor. Further, you should avoid putting vinyl records in direct sunlight, even if they're boxed up, as UV radiation can cause color bleaching and heat can cause the vinyl to warp. Find a cool, dark part of your unit for optimal conditions.

Climate Controlled Storage Units

While they do represent an added expense, you may want to look into renting a self-storage unit that comes with climate control capabilities. These types of storage units allow you to maintain a set level of humidity and temperature throughout the year, which greatly inhibits mold and mildew growth on the sleeves of your records and ensures that the fragile vinyl does not become damaged due to excessive heat or temperature fluctuations. 

Talk to a storage facility, like Northgate Mini Storage.

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