In the previous blog post, I had shared few tips on how to keep your vinyl record collection clean. Apart from keeping the records clean, it is also important to understand how to store them to increase the longevity of the records. In this blog post, I’ll discuss about some of the options how to store vinyl records long term at home and share some vinyl store ideas.
Avoid excessive heat and sunlight
Storing vinyl records the right way from the beginning will be helpful in the long run. As your collection grows, proper storage will not make it easier to manage it but also help in increasing it’s life span. Vinyl records are very sensitive to heat and light. Storing them in direct sunlight will warp and damage them. Avoid placing them near fireplaces, radiators and away from excessive heat. Another thing to avoid is excessive humidity as it will again damage the records. Storing in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight is recommended for the records. Do not pack the records together very tightly as the pressure will damage them. You should leave some space between the vinyl records to flip through them.
Use inner sleeves
Vinyl records come in inner paper sleeves placed inside an outer jacket. Over a period of time, the inner sleeves get torn and damaged and can scratch the vinyl records. Pure paper sleeve should be avoided as it acts like sandpaper and damages the surface of the record over a period of time. It is always better to store the vinyl record inside a plastic sleeve instead of the paper one. The plastic inner sleeve comes in 2 variations – one which is completely plastic and other which has plastic on one side and paper on another. Using an anti-static plastic sleeve will keep the dust off and protect your precious vinyl.
Use outer sleeves
The vinyl record is not just the only thing which needs to be protected. The outer jacket which has the beautiful artwork also needs care in order for it to last long. The outer jacket bears the most abuse when the records are pulled from the storage shelves. Over a period of time, the outer jacket can form a ring due to the pressure forced upon it by packing the records too tight. While the ring wear can be avoided by keeping some space between the records, the outer jacket does need to be placed in a plastic sleeve to keep it intact. Using heavy plastic outer sleeve should be avoided as it will stick to the jacket and peel it off over time.
Store your vinyl records upright
One of the common mistakes which beginners make is stacking the vinyl records like pancakes. This is not the correct way to store vinyl records. When the records are stacked over each other like pancakes, the weight of the records with the jacket can cause warping the records at the bottom of the pile. The records may get bent and deformed due to the weight. Warped records do not playback well and can cause wobbly sounds thereby ruining the record. Always keep the records in upright position and leave some gap between them.
Various vinyl storage options
When you have just started your vinyl collection, there may not be a need to store them using shelves. However, as time progresses and your collection, having proper storage is mandatory. Regardless of the size of your collection, having proper vinyl storage will not only help store vinyl records properly but will make the look aesthetically appealing as well. Here are few options of how to store your vinyl records.
Vinyl storage shelves
One of the best way to store a large collection of records is using vinyl storage shelves. The best budget one available is the Ikea Kallax which comes in different shapes and colors. Each block can store about 100 vinyl records or can hold a bin which can hold records. Only thing which you need to be careful is as you pack more records, the shelf itself may lean on one side and collapse. Protect the shelf from both sides using L brackets. Other shelf options may include a TV or speaker stands.
Vinyl storage bin
Storage bin are another solution for large number of records specially if you want to store them say in your basement. The vinyl records stores usually have the clearance items in bins. Cheap plastic bins like milk crates are readily available in stores like Home Depot. Symbol Audio has some high end beautifully crafted wooden crates.
Vinyl storage rack
Storage racks like the one from Forest and Co are ideal for smaller collection of vinyl records. Also, if you want to showcase your vinyl records, storage racks make pretty good impression. You could place your new records or records currently spinning.
Vinyl storage bag
If you are not planning to access your records frequently and want an archival solution, the vinyl storage bag is the best option. The vinyl storage bag is made out of heavy duty plastic and records are held upright. Additionally if you need to transport your vinyl records on flight, then an aluminium box like Vaultz Vinyl Storage Box would be the answer. These usually come with padding which can absorb the impact and protect the contents inside.
How do you store your vinyl records? Let us know in the comments below.
