20 Jun How to Preserve a Vinyl, CD and Cassette Music Collection in a Storage Unit
Our Kamloops storage facility rents storage units to many different types of collectors and hobbyists, including collectors of music on old school, analogue, recorded medium. If you collect music on LP or 45 RPM records, CD-ROM, or cassette and you’re downsizing or decluttering, storing your music collection in a rented storage unit is an excellent choice. Ask any collector of music, old toys or books, about the most difficult aspect of their hobby and most would say “a lack of space”. There never seems to be enough of it.
Unless you have a large room that you can dedicate to your music collection (most people don’t) you may wind up storing “overflow” in closets, under beds, in basements or garages – basically, anywhere you can! This haphazard way of storing items is less than ideal for preservation and makes managing your collection difficult. Long-term storage in a storage unit frees up space in your home and helps properly preserve the different music mediums (vinyl, CD, tape).
A little planning and preparation will help keep your music library in pristine condition for years to come.
Clean Before You Store
For cleaning your collection, gather the following materials:
- Anti-static brush
- Microfiber cloths (one to apply a cleaning solution and one to dry)
- Cotton swabs
- Cleaning solution for records and CDS: 1 part isopropyl alcohol to 3 parts distilled water. You can also purchase a record cleaning kit or CD cleaning kit
How to clean records and CDs
- Hold records or CDs by their edges
- Remove dust with an anti-static brush. Move the brush in the same direction as the grooves and not across the grooves
- Clean with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. Gently wipe around the record or CD parallel with the grooves
- Dry with a clean microfiber cloth or allow to air dry
How to clean cassette tapes
In most cases, only the tape that is exposed at the tape head (at the opening on the bottom of the cassette), needs to be cleaned.
- Lightly dampen a cotton swab with distilled water and gently wipe any tape that is exposed at the tape head and roller openings. Wipe parallel to the length of the tape. See a diagram of a cassette tape.
- Allow the tape to dry
Use the Right Containers and Store Correctly
Place records in their sleeves and insert the record into its cover. If sleeves are missing, it’s not too expensive to buy a pack of sleeves. Store records upright, not flat, in boxes.
Place CDs in their covers and store upright in a CD storage box.
Place cassettes in their cases and store in a cassette box that has a lid.
Choose Climate-Controlled Storage
When you rent a storage unit, it’s best to choose a climate-controlled storage facility. Climate-controls ensure that humidity and temperature are at levels that keep stored items safe from environmental damage.
Questions About Storage Unit Sizes?
Valleyview Mini Storage in Kamloops rents over 45 different sizes of storage units. We can help you estimate the right size unit for your needs and provide an estimate. Contact our helpful staff with any questions you may have about storage. Our storage facility is open to customers from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.