How to Store Your Vinyl Records the right way?
We've all had a valuable record damaged.
It's excruciating.
The damage is irreversible, whether it's a scratched surface, a bent sleeve, worn artwork, or a warped record.
However, you could have avoided the situation in the first place.
The most common cause of damaged records is improper storage.
It doesn't have to be that way, though.
The way you keep your vinyl records may make a big difference in how long they last.
Vinyl is a sensitive medium that can be easily damaged if you don't know how to keep it correctly. The condition of your LPs is affected by the atmosphere, temperature, humidity, and other variables.
We'll cover all you need to know about vinyl storage, including where to keep records, how to store them, and how to prevent the most typical blunders
First and foremost, wherever and however you store your records, it is criminal to stack them records over each other. Always store them vertically aligned. This is of prime importance and we can't harp enough what long term damage you are bringing to your records if you stack them.
Where to Store Vinyl Records
It's critical to preserve your record collection in the right place if you want to retain your LPs in good shape. Many people store their old LPs in their storage rooms, but this isn't always the greatest option. When looking at storage solutions for your vinyl records, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Light
This is something that many people overlook, but it is critical if you want to keep your data in the best possible form. Overexposure to strong lights and harsh sunshine might harm your LPs over time. This is particularly true when it comes to UV light.
In most circumstances, this won't be an issue, but if you have a large window next to your records or a plant-growing setup with UV lamps, keep your records out of direct sunlight.
Temperature
The room temperature of the place is the first and most crucial factor to consider. Vinyl records should be kept in a cool environment—not too cold, but not too hot. When vinyl is exposed to intense heat for a lengthy period of time, it can distort and cause other problems.
Humidity
The humidity level is the second most crucial factor to consider while preserving your vinyl records. Over time, high humidity or moisture in the air might cause serious harm to your records. In a city like Mumbai, one gotta be extra careful about this. A simple storage crate made with a good quality pinewood or teakwood would take care of your humidity woes.
How to store your Vinyl Records
After you've decided where you'll keep your records, you'll need to figure out how you'll keep them. Vinyl records may be stored in two ways: short-term storage and long-term storage.
Short term Vinyl Storage
You should utilise a short-term storage option for records that you listen to frequently. These may be kept on a shelf beneath your turntable and pulled out as needed.
When you use them frequently, you won't have to be as careful about how you keep them. That is if you clean your records correctly before and after each play and do not have a vast quantity of records on your shelf.
We have some amazing short term storage options for your vinyl at India Record Co. to help preserve and protect your recordings.
Long term Vinyl Storage
Unfortunately, the majority of people are unaware of how to properly keep their vinyl collections throughout time. If they won't be handled for a year or longer, you'll need to find a more permanent storage solution.
When placing your records into storage, there are a few things to bear in mind, especially if you have a lot of them.
Shelving
Because of the pressure issue, you should try to avoid tossing all of your records into a bin as much as feasible.
They will continue to tumble and press on themselves as time passes, perhaps inflicting long-term damage. Instead, choose a shelf system that allows you to divide parts of records. You don't want more than roughly 15 albums leaning against each other on a shelf, as this may cause undue strain. You may use a wood shelf instead of a metal shelf to reduce the amount of static. This will help to prevent dust buildup on your records.
Dividers
If you don't have a lot of shelves to segregate your records, invest in some robust dividers. These are easy to get by on the internet. To provide support to your records, all you need is some thick wood to lay between them.
Ideally, LPs should stand up straight on the shelf instead of leaning to one side. This will help to lessen the pressure placed on the end records. You can accomplish this by placing a divider every 4-6 inches.
Moreover, you can use these to help organize your collection. Label each divider by genre or use them to place your records in alphabetical order. This is a great option that takes care of two issues at once.
You can also diy these by using the vinyl holders that come in our mailer boxes when you order records from us.
Cleaning
One more point on long-term storage: make sure records are clean before putting them away.
If the records are new, clean them with an anti-static brush to remove any dust or dirt from the grooves. If it rests for a long time, it may work its way too deeply into the record to be removed, and the stylus will embed the dust into the LP the next time you play it. When you play the LP again, you'll notice a lot of crackling and skipping.
It’s also important to use sleeves and not plastic, but dual Polyethylene ones which are available on our website.
Check out our collection for vinyl record storage be it long term or short term we’ve got it all covered!