Printed photographs can provide a physical representation of a memory, but large collections of photographs can also take up a great deal of space in your room. If you want to free up some space in your closet or living room, you may want to consider putting your photo collection into storage. However, before doing so, you need to ensure that your properly prepare your photo collection so that they do not become damaged while in storage.
Proper Packing
In order to best protect your photographs, you should make sure that they are properly packed away in photo albums that have acid free paper and plastic coverings. These provide the highest degree of protection to your photographs while still allowing you to see the photos themselves. However, moving individual photo albums is time consuming, and so you should package multiple albums into moving boxes. Not only does this make your photographs much easier to carry and transport, but it adds another layer of protection to your photographs to prevent moisture and UV exposure from damaging them. Ensure that you clearly mark all boxes containing photographs so you know which albums are where.
Location within the Unit
Once you've packed up your photographs, you should figure out where to position them within your storage unit to protect them even further. While boxes and photo albums will protect them from dust and the worst of the elements, you should take care to place those boxes and albums off of the ground and out of direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause the boxes to warm up, which can cause heat damage to the photographs slowly over time, ruining the colors. You should make sure that the boxes are on a table or at least off of the ground because that way your photographs are protected from any potential water damage that could occur due to a leak or flooding.
Climate Control
While it does represent an added expense, it may be a good idea for you to invest in a climate controlled storage unit. Photographs are susceptible to damage due to temperature fluctuation and high levels of humidity, which can cause damage to the colors of your photos or to the paper the photo is printed on. A climate controlled unit can give you the ability to maintain a specific level of humidity and temperature year round, which will protect your photographs and any other items that you decide to put into your storage unit.
Share4 April 2017
After I found out that my employer wanted us to relocate internationally, I was nervous about what it would mean for my family. I wanted things to move smoothly, but I wasn't sure how much of a hassle it would be to pick up and move an entire family. However, I started focusing on making sure things were in order, and before I knew it we were on the open road. It was incredible to see how much of a difference we were able to make, and within no time, things started to move along. This blog is all about moving without the problems, and staying organized with the help of storage.