So, you’re quite the collector type. You’ve got too many books in your library? If so, you might’ve thought about renting out storage space for a part of your valuable collection. Collecting (relatively) valuable items is a passion for many folks all around the country. People dedicate their lives to piling up books until there’s little place in their apartments for necessary household items. You can imagine the thought process of a book collector going a little something like this: Oh, never mind, I’ll throw the bed away and sleep in the tub. Who needs a bed anyway? More place for my books! Okay, that was a bit too much, but you get it. If your collectibles are causing some space issues in your apartment, this article is just the thing for you. Stay tuned to find everything you need to know about storing your books and collectibles long-term.
Sunlight is your biggest enemy!
Wow, what a title! It isn’t the best choice of words, but never mind. And no, we didn’t borrow this from How to be a Vampire 101 class. Anyway, storing your items someplace where direct sunlight can’t find them should be your top priority. The same goes for most collectibles or memorabilia. Have you ever worked in a bookshop? If you haven’t, you probably didn’t have the luxury of seeing a book cover change color in front of your eyes. That mainly happens to books in the store’s front window, and we can only blame the sunlight.
Extreme weather conditions, also
This probably goes without saying, but we’ll mention it anyway. Extreme weather conditions are by no means suitable for your stored items, especially books or electronics. Whether it’s a (traditionally) harsh winter or a sweltering summer – your storage space needs to be protected. You can do that by renting a climate-controlled storage space, for example. FInd out about self storage prices here. But more about that in one of the paragraphs below. In the next one, to be precise.
Renting a storage space?
Here’s the main thing about storing your books and collectibles long-term. Probably the best way to ensure your stored items are safe from harm is to rent storage space somewhere close to your home. Nothing beats climate-controlled storage space. Okay, maybe a triple cheeseburger, but that’s not the topic here. Rent a climate-controlled storage room, and your items will be the same as you’ve left them. Also, by having them near your place, you can always make sure everything is okay by checking your storage space from time to time. Although you probably won’t find any problems, it’s always good to be cautious. If you want top-notch service, renting climate-controlled storage space is the way to go; there’s no doubt about it! And you can compare prices on this helpful price comparison table.
Brief intermezzo: tips on how to prepare books for storage
In this paragraph, we’ll show you what you need to do before storing your books. By doing some of the things we’ll list below, you’ll know you’ve done everything that’s in your power to protect your valuables. Here’s what needs to be done:
- Remove dust from your books – use a soft brush to eliminate any dirt or dust. Also, don’t use water!
- Allow your books to breathe – air out your books if necessary (if you happen to feel a foul smell).
- Check for unwanted guests – when removing dust from your books, look for any pests or insect eggs inside. You really don’t want unwanted guests inside your books.
- Don’t use newspapers to wrap them – books will need to be wrapped in a manner that won’t do them any harm. Acid-free archival paper is the best option you’ll come across.
- Obtain quality boxes – to make sure your books are kept in a suitable environment (besides, of course, climate-controlled storage space), you’ll need to spend some money obtaining quality boxes.
These were some tips on how to store your books in the right manner. By doing the stuff we’ve mentioned above, your mind will be at peace. Every book lover knows how important it is to know your books are safe. We all have that one friend who borrows a book, never reads it, and returns it in the worst possible condition.
Are you a toy collector, by any chance?
So, we’ve spent much of this article talking about books. Of course, booklovers are probably thrilled about that. If you’re a toy collector, you might think we’ve forgotten about you. You’d be wrong to assume that! We’ll share some tips on storing collectible toys also. If you’re a collector, you know it’s best to keep them in their original packaging. You can use the tips above about storing books. Remove dust, wrap your toys with acid-free paper, and so on. If you’ve lost the original packaging, don’t worry. Consider using fabric boxes to store your toys efficiently. And, of course, renting climate-controlled storage is the best option for storing toys.
A few words and then we’ll leave
So, there you have it. These were some of the things you can do before and after storing your books and collectibles long-term. Hopefully, your valuable book collection will survive its time in the storage unit (or room), thanks to some of the words you’ve found in this article. We’ll be delighted to know that because we understand the importance some personal items (especially books or collectibles) have for our well-being and identity.