How to Store Vinyl Records Long-Term

All My Sons Moving & Storage offers full-service storage solutions including packing, loading, and transport of all the goods you want safeguarded in storage, including your collection of vinyl records. 

As a music-lover you adore your extensive collection of vinyl records. Keeping your records in great condition allows you to enjoy your records for decades to come. When you enter into a season of transition, whether that’s an impending move or downsizing your home, then keeping the records safe is probably high on your priorities list. 

Follow this guide for packing your vinyl records to help your records emerge from storage in fantastic condition.

These factors can damage your records over time, and when selecting a space to store your records for the long-haul you should take each factor into consideration.

• Temperature: According to the Library of Congress, the ideal temperature for storing vinyl records is 65° to 70° F. Temperature-controlled storage is an absolute must if you want your vinyl records to emerge from storage in great condition and not warped or cracked.

• Moisture: High humidity can lead to condensation on your records, which can cause mold or mildew growth and warping of your records. Ideally, your records should be kept somewhere with a relative humidity of between 30 to 40%.

• Gravity: Boxes stacked on one another can settle over time, leading to broken or damaged containers. Records should also never be stored stacked horizontally, because the pressure on the lower records might cause them to crack or warp.

• Light: Direct sunlight and UV rays can have a detrimental impact on vinyl. If you store your records at home, make sure they are away from windows and if you store in a self-storage facility then make sure there are no light leaks in your unit. 

• Pests: While vinyl itself isn’t all that attractive to pests, the cases and storage containers you put your records into might be. Pests like silverfish, cockroaches, bed bugs, and spiders are known to love paper and cardboard that you might store your vinyl records in. Pest activity can damage your record sleeves and the records themselves.

Preparing your items for storage is an essential part of making sure items like your vinyl record collection stay in great shape for the duration of their stay. Before you load up your storage unit, take these extra measures to ensure your records are safe to sit for a while. 

• Clean and Dust Records: Dust and grime on your records can lead to static and skips in playback. Dusty records going into storage will only deteriorate in condition, so make sure to clean your records properly before you pack them. Use a special record-cleaning brush and a vinyl-safe cleaning solution to carefully extract dust and grime from the surface of your records.

• Put Records in Sleeves: Your record’s paper sleeves will likely deteriorate faster than the records themselves, but sleeves are a vital part of keeping records safe from dust and scratches. The Library of Congress recommends you replace paper record sleeves with a high density polyethylene sleeve. These sleeves can be purchased from retailers like  Sleeve City or Big Fudge Vinyl.

• Pack Records Vertically: Records short always rest in their containers vertically and be kept upright during transport. Packing records this way protects them from pressure damage. 

• Use Small Boxes: Records add up in weight very quickly. To avoid injuries and damaged records, you should always pack records in smaller containers that can be easily lifted even when full. 

• Label All Boxes and Bins: Never lose track of your favorite records. Label all your boxes and bins with what records they contain, or create a full inventory of all your records.

Avoid some common storage packing mistakes when you’re storing your vinyl records. A little extra planning will help keep your records safe, allow you to save money, and avoid headaches.

• Choose the right size unit: If you are picking your own self-storage unit, choose one that can comfortably accommodate everything you’re looking to store with just a little extra room for navigation. 

• Consider your access needs: If you would like to visit your record collection in storage, consider when you will need to access the unit. If you’d like access at odd hours, ask your self-storage facility about 24-hour access. If you do not intend to visit your unit at all, consider putting your records into full-service storage.

• Organize your unit well: For vinyl records, it’s a good idea to invest in sturdy shelves so you are not staking record boxes on top of each other. This also keeps items off the floor, which is most vulnerable to flood damage. Map the storage unit by ease of access and remember to leave spaces for navigation so that you can check on all your records easily.

• Periodically check on your unit: The best way to prevent damage inside your unit is to catch problems before they become significant. Check your storage unit at least once a month and look for signs of pests or leaks. 

With careful storage, vinyl records can last for generations. You’ll be able to jam out to your favorite tunes and pass that album down to your grandchildren when the time comes.

If you’re considering full-service storage to keep your vinyl records in pristine shape, check out storage solutions at All My Sons Moving & Storage. Our company maintains dozens of storage facilities nationwide to safeguard your belongings until the time comes for you to retrieve them. Our units are temperature-controlled and protected by state-of-the-art surveillance systems.

Moving soon? Make sure to get a quote from All My Sons Moving & Storage and make this your most seamless relocation yet.