Vinyl Storage Tips

With the continued rapid development of technology, many have moved to online and digital storage for intellectual property. Music has been no exception, with the rise of streaming and downloading songs from online. While CDs and other physical forms of music have declined as the digital age has come about, the vinyl record format has been gaining popularity as of late. Their popularity increased during the pandemic and their nostalgic feel remains popular still today. But whether you’re an avid collector or you just have your favorite album, you may eventually need vinyl storage. You may be downsizing, moving, or just clearing up space in your home and suddenly your records are on their way to the self-storage unit. How can you keep them safe and sound while they’re on vacation? Read on for our vinyl  storage tips.

Preparing for Vinyl Storage

Clean the Vinyl

As with everything, vinyls are more likely to come out of storage looking nice and new if they go in free of dirt and debris. Make sure you use the proper cleaning equipment to cleanse them so you don’t create damage or accidentally add more dirt. Go for a record cleaning brush or a vinyl cleaning solution with a microfiber cloth to remove the debris from your records. Because these are specifically meant for vinyls, they damage your vinyl like scrubbing with another brush or cloth would.

Wrap the Record in its Original Sleeve

Vinyls come in two sleeves–one outside sleeve for decoration, one inside sleeve for storage. This inside sleeve is key to preserving your record (even outside of the storage unit). Sliding your record into a paper or cardboard sleeve can increase the amount of dirt, static, and scratches on your vinyl. Instead, keep the inner sleeve for storage and make sure you use it in the storage unit as well. This your record won’t be damaged by the outer sleeve while you’re moving it, stacking it, or checking on it in storage.

If you really want to get picky about preserving the entire record including the outside sleeve, you can invest in another layer of protection to keep the artwork safe. An outer bag can keep your record safe, just make sure it’s not plastic so it doesn’t stick to your cardboard.

In the Storage Unit

Selected a Climate-Controlled Vinyl Storage Unit

Vinyls are very sensitive to light, warmth, and humidity. A climate-controlled unit is essential to preserving them during storage. This will keep the records from warping from heat or cold. Humidity can lead to the formation of mold and mildew on the vinyl and must also be controlled by the storage unit.

Store Vinyls Vertically

Stacking the vinyls on top of each other horizontally can cause the ones on the bottom to break or warp. While one vinyl doesn’t weigh a lot on its own, a stack of them adds up quick and can apply quite a bit of pressure on the bottom ones. Instead, make sure each vinyl is stored upright vertically. You may consider investing in shelves for your vinyl storage if you have a large collection and need to save on vertical space.

When your vinyls are boxed, also ensure the boxes are filled to the appropriate amount to prevent warping. If any of the vinyls are leaning over in the box, they could warp over time. Make sure the box is filled enough so that all vinyls stand up straight, but not so much that they are squeezed in as this can also cause warping.

Allow Circulation in the Vinyl Storage Unit

Unlike some other frequently stored items, vinyls need to have circulation around them to stay fresh. In this case, you do not need to invest in containers with lids–on the contrary, make sure the vinyls can breathe. This may be another reason to invest in shelving as you don’t want to be stacking sealed boxes of vinyls on top of each other.

Also make sure that any boxes of vinyls you have do not touch the floor. Ideally they would be suspended on a wood pallet so the moisture seeping up from the floor doesn’t create any damage.

 

With our guide to help, we hope you’re able to safely store your vinyls so they can sing again another day! Check out the AAA Storage blog for tips on how to store many more items and check out our storage facilities serving the Asheville, North Carolina area.