How to Keep a Record Collection Safe

Many vinyl enthusiasts claim that you can’t get a great sound from any other means of playing music. Maybe your passion is collecting old, rare vinyl, or maybe you love the new releases that are now available on vinyl due to the recent spike in popularity of vinyl records.

^[1] Storing your record collection is important for maintaining the quality of the sound, and you should consider location, temperature, and condition of the records in order to keep them safe.

1 Check for warped records. Especially when dealing with a collection of older records, it’s important to check for warps in the record. This happens when the vinyl is overheated or exposed to too much humidity. It can lead to bumps or irregularities in the shape of the disc.
- If you have a warped record, remove it from the cardboard cover (but keep it in the protective sleeve), and place it between two thick plates of glass. Stack a few heavy books on top of the glass and leave them for 7-10 days.^[2]
- This might not be effective for every record, but if it doesn’t work, there are always other ways to use your record. You could even try making a Salvador Dali clock out of it!
2 Buy extra protective sleeves for your records. If you have an expansive collection, chances are that you have a few records that are missing their protective sleeve. It’s important to keep your record covered before storing it, especially for vintage records.^[3]
- Most record sleeves for sale are anti-static, acid free, and generally offer more protection for your record than the sleeves that come in the original packaging.
  If you do a lot of listening to your collection, consider getting aftermarket sleeves.
3 Protect your records from dust. Storing your records in both an inner and outer sleeve will protect them from dust. Also be sure to regularly dust and vacuum the area where you store your records, to keep dust from settling onto the packaging and storage shelves and potentially harming your records.^[4]
4 Protect your records from heat. Heat will ruin records by warping them. Keep your records in an area that is room temperature, and away from windows, vents, radiators, and other sources of heat.^[5]
- Sunlight is also…