The way in which you choose to store your vinyl records will have a significant impact on the lifespan of your albums. If you have ever purchased a record from a yard sale, and these records have been stored in an attic for a long period of time, you will know exactly what I am talking about.
Vinyl is extremely delicate and therefore it is imperative that it is stored correctly. It is incredibly easy to damage vinyl records if you do not know how to store them properly. Impacting factors include humidity, temperature, environment and other factors.

This article will outline everything that you need to know concerning storing vinyl records safely, including the best places and how to store them correctly. I will also outline the most common pitfalls to avoid at all costs. There are also websites like Notes On Vinyl that provide further information.
Where Should I Store Vinyl Records?
The location in which you choose to store your records is imperative for maintaining the overall quality of your albums. Most people will choose to store their old LPs in a shed or attic. However, this is not the wisest choice. There are numerous elements that you will need to take into consideration when deciding the best place.
Temperature
The most important factor to consider is the room temperature of the area in which you will store your records. You will ideally want to store your vinyl records in a cooler location. However, you do not want this area to be too cold. If your records are exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time, they can become warped and damaged by the heat.
If you have an attic or storage unit that is temperature-controlled, then this is ideal. However, the vast majority of attics will be hotter than the remainder of the house due to the heat rising. Cellars are therefore a brilliant alternative; however, you will also need to assess the level of moisture in your cellar.

Humidity
The second most important factor to consider when you are storing your records is the level of humidity in your storage area. Exposure to moisture or high levels of humidity in the air will cause a vast amount of damage to your albums over a period of time.
It has been recommended by The Northeast Document Conservation Center that vinyl LPs are stored at a temperature of 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also ensure that the humidity level is between 30-40 percent.
Within a normal household, a finished basement is usually perfect for storage as it remains cooler without becoming incredibly humid during the nighttime. If this is not an option, then you should try to locate an area in your house that does remain cool without having too much humidity.
Light
This is another factor that most people often overlook when considering where to store their vinyl records. However, it is crucial to consider lighting if you wish to maintain their quality.
Exposing them to bright lights and direct sunlight can damage your LPs over a period of time. This is especially true if your records have been exposed to ultraviolet light. If you have a large window or a plant near your records, you should remove your records from the light entirely.
How Do I Store Vinyl Records?

Once you have considered all of these factors and chosen your location to store your records, you will also need to consider the method by which you are going to store them. There are two different types of storage available for vinyl records: short-term and long-term.
Short-term storage is recommended for those LPs that you will actually want to listen to on a regular basis. These can be stored on a shelf situated underneath your turntable making them easily accessible whenever you wish to listen to them.
You should remember to ensure that the humidity in the room that your turntable is situated in is not too high as this can cause damage as mentioned.
Whenever your records are used consistently, you will not need to be as careful with how they are stored in comparison to those records that you are storing long-term. However, you should ensure that you are cleaning them before and after laying them and that you are not stacking too many records on one shelf.
Long-term storage requires more attentiveness, and you should ensure that you store them in a container that does not contain any moisture.
Conclusion
To conclude, this article has outlined the best means of storing your favourite vinyl records. I hope that you have found this article to be insightful and informative. Thank you for reading.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com