Top-Notch Strategies for Safely Storing Your Vinyl Records
Vinyl record storage: A collector's guide
Preserving your cherished record collection is a task that calls for mindful storage practices and optimal environmental conditions to ensure the longevity of your beloved vinyls. Here's what you need to know to keep your records in tip-top shape.
1. Stand your records upright
Gone are the days of piling up your records haphazardly. Store them vertically, like books, on sturdy shelves or crates to prevent premature warping and damage.
2. Clean them up
Regular cleaning is a must to keep the fingerprints, dust, and dirt at bay. Start by giving them a gentle wipe with a soft cloth to eliminate dust and static. For more stubborn stains, use a mild cleaning solution, applying it in a circular motion with the cloth. Let the records air dry before putting them back in their sleeves.
3. Keep them cozy in their sleeves
There's a good reason why records come with inner and outer sleeves. Inner sleeves protect your records from accumulating dust and static, while outer sleeves safeguard the album art and inner sleeves from damage. Replace worn or damaged sleeves with archival-quality ones, like rice paper, to minimize static and extend the life of your records.
4. Cool and dry conditions are key
For serious record collectors, it's essential to maintain an ideal storage environment for both older and newer records. Keep the temperature at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity between 40 and 50 percent to prevent warping, mold, or other forms of damage.
5. Play it cool (and steady) with handling
To keep those soft grooves intact, always handle your records by the edges or the center label. This will also prevent you from transferring oil and dirt onto the record surface. When moving the turntable tonearm, wait for the platter to fully stop to avoid any potential scratches.
Keep it simple with Record Cube vinyl record storage boxes
Caring for your records doesn’t have to be a cumbersome task. The Record Cube vinyl record storage boxes from Big Fudge Vinyl make storage uncomplicated and straightforward. Each box can hold up to 70 records, comes with a blank label so you can jot down what's inside, and even folds when not in use to save space.
For any questions concerning proper vinyl storage, don’t be shy - shoot us a message on our contact page. We’re always here to help.
Sources:[1] Miles Showell, "How to Store Your Vinyl Records," The Mastering Engineer, 2 Mar. 2020, masteringengineer.com/how-to-store-your-vinyl-records/.[2] "Vinyl Records: How to Organize Your Collection," Vinyl Me, Please, 6 Aug. 2020, vinylmeplease.com/blog/vinyl-records-how-to-organize-your-collection/.[3] "Vinyl Record Storage," How To Store Your Valuables, 7 Jan. 2021, howtostoreyourvaluables.com/vinyl-record-storage-boxes/.[4] Ramon Hernandez, "How to Care for Your Record Collection: Storing, Cleaning, and More," The Vinyl Factory, 1 Sept. 2020, thevinylfactory.com/feature/how-to-care-for-your-record-collection-storing-cleaning-and-more/.
- To maintain a clean and protected environment for your inner sleeves and vinyl records, consider using archival-quality sleeves, such as rice paper ones, which minimize static and prolong the life of your records.
- For collectors desiring to organize their home-and-garden space in a stylish manner, Record Cube vinyl record storage boxes from Big Fudge Vinyl provide both practicality and aesthetics, with the ability to hold up to 70 records and a foldable design for saving space.
- To complement your fashion-and-beauty sense with a lifestyle that values preservation and sustainability, adhere to proper record storage practices that prioritize cool and dry conditions, standing your records upright, and cleaning them regularly for the longevity of your precious vinyl records.
