Keeping your record collection safe and accessible can be a challenge in any home. If you’re not storing them with sleeves, how do you keep your records from getting dusty or scratched? Keeping your records out on display is a great way to show off your collection and make it accessible for listening anytime, but if they’re constantly being handled the risk of damage increases. Even if you take precautions to avoid dust and scratches, time will take its toll on almost anything made of vinyl. Thankfully, there are plenty of solutions to keeping those old-timey gramophone discs safe and sound until you’re ready to listen again. Here are some tips and tricks for storing vinyl records without sleeves!
How To Store Vinyl Records Without Sleeves?
- Place the vinyl on a flat surface and place a piece of paper on top of it. Then, place something heavy on top of the paper, like a book. The pressure from the book will transfer the ink from the paper to the vinyl, and voila! You now have a custom sticker made from your favorite book!
- You can also use Duct Tape to cover the vinyl. Place the tape over the vinyl, and then place a weight on top of the tape. Then let it sit for a few hours, and you will have a custom sticker made from your favorite book!
- If you’re looking for more customization, you can use a permanent marker to write your personal message on the vinyl sticker.
- This is best if you have a large piece of vinyl, like a poster. You can also use a permanent marker to write the title of your favorite book on the vinyl.
- If you’re looking for something more permanent, there are many ways to apply vinyl stickers to your books. You can use an adhesive sticker, which will be easier to apply than the other methods listed above.
- If you’re looking for something really permanent, you can use a book cover as a stencil, and then apply the sticker directly on top of the cover. The most difficult part is waiting for it to dry! However, if you have patience, this is one of the most effective ways to make custom stickers from your favorite book!
- If all else fails, there’s always that old trick where you douse your vinyl in water and let it sit overnight (or several hours). The water will soak into the vinyl and leave behind a permanent imprint of your favorite book!
- If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, you can always apply a sticker made of clear vinyl to your book! The sticker will not only look great, but it will also be very durable.
- Lastly, if you have a hardback book that has a glossy finish, you can use an inkjet printer to print out your own custom stickers from the book! This is one of the easiest ways to make customized stickers from your favorite book!
- If all else fails, there’s always that old trick where you douse your vinyl in water and let it sit overnight (or several hours). The water will soak into the vinyl and leave behind a permanent imprint of your favorite book!
- If you’re looking for something really permanent, you can also use a stencil made of clear vinyl to apply directly on top of the cover (or any other hard surface). You can then use an inkjet printer to print out the custom design on top of the vinyl.
Storage Options
- Inexpensive, but not recommended.
- Corrugated cardboard boxes filled with crumpled newspaper.
- Plastic boxes with a lidded plastic tray that fits into the box. These are often used to store books or electronic equipment and come in different sizes and shapes. It’s important to ensure that the box is well-ventilated, as moisture-sensitive materials can be damaged by too much heat or cold.
- Polystyrene (Styrofoam) peanuts (the kind used for packing fragile items). They are lightweight and take up very little space, but they can be difficult to find on the Internet in bulk quantities at reasonable prices; they must be bought in large quantities at specialized packing stores (eBay is a good place to look), or by mail order from suppliers such as The Styrofoam Store (USA). They’re also available from some supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco, but these are expensive.
- Rigid cardboard boxes, of various sizes and shapes, are sold in bulk by retailers such as eBay or Amazon (UK). Some come with lids – these are ideal for storing records that are not in sleeves.
- Rubbermaid containers (the kind used for storing food), but these can be difficult to find on the Internet at reasonable prices in bulk quantities; they must be bought from specialized packing stores such as The Container Store (USA) or from some supermarkets such as Waitrose (UK). They’re also available from some supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco, but these are expensive.
- Polystyrene blocks (Styrofoam blocks) – these are lightweight, and take up very little space; they can be found on the Internet at reasonable prices in bulk quantities from specialized packing stores such as The Styrofoam Store (USA). They’re also available from some supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco, but these are expensive.
- Polystyrene (Styrofoam) packing peanuts – these are lightweight and take up very little space; they can be found on the Internet at reasonable prices in bulk quantities from specialized packing stores such as The Styrofoam Store (USA). They’re also available from some supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco, but these are expensive.
- Small plastic containers for storing pressed flowers, seeds, or other small items that need to be kept dry; can be bought from eBay sellers in the UK and USA for a few pounds each.
- Small plastic boxes with lids; can be bought from eBay sellers in the UK and USA for a few pounds each.
Zip-Lock Bags And Dust Covers
1. Zip-lock Bags
First, you’ll need a zip-lock bag. The best quality ones are made from thick plastic and come in a variety of sizes. Some are designed to be used to store delicate items like coins or jewelry, but they’re also great for storing records.
2. Dust Covers
You can use any piece of cloth that you have available to cover the records while they’re being stored. You can cut up an old t-shirt, or use a sheet from an old blanket or pillowcase. If you want to make your own dust covers, you can sew together several sheets of fabric and then place them over the records. This will help keep the dust off your records so that they last longer, but it might not protect them entirely from scratches and scuffs during storage and transport.
4. Airtight Storage Boxes
Airtight storage boxes are a great way to store your records without sleeves and with protection against dust and moisture, but they aren’t designed for long-term storage and they can’t protect against scratches or scuffs. If you want to keep your records safe and protected during use, look for one of these types of storage boxes instead of using zip-lock bags or regular cardboard boxes.
5. Record Storage Cases
Record storage cases are a good way to store your records, but they can be expensive. You’ll have to buy the boxes and sleeves separately, so you’ll need to measure the records that you have, and then buy the appropriate size of box or sleeve. If you care about the artwork on your records, you should use this method only if it’s significantly cheaper than buying a protective cover for each record.
6. Protective Records Sleeves
Sleeves are designed to be used with a record player and will protect your records from scratches and scuffs during use. They usually come in two parts: a cardboard base with a plastic liner that fits over the record and protects it from scratching during use and an outer sleeve with artwork on it that will protect the liner while in storage or transit. You can buy sleeves made specifically for storing vinyl albums; they’re usually made of thick plastic or cardboard, are designed to fit the album, and have artwork printed on them.
Conclusion
Record sleeves were originally designed to protect the record from scratches and dust. Now, they’re also used to protect the sleeves themselves from damage, as well as the record label on the record itself. Some sleeves are made from paper, while others are made from a more durable fabric. When storing your records without sleeves, it’s important to keep them clean and free from dust. You can do this by storing them vertically in bags or boxes, or horizontally in protective sleeves. Happy listening!
