KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ Some delicate and complicated items require specialty storage to preserve their quality and value.
▸ Electronic devices, wine and spirits, musical instruments, fine art and collectibles, and important documents and photos all require extra protection from the elements.
▸ When looking for specialty storage, seek out a climate-controlled facility to keep your belongings from environmental damage.
As easy as it would be to throw all your belongings into a box and store that box in a unit to save space in your home, not everything you own can survive without specialized storage. From important documents to valuable collectibles, electronics to instruments, you’ll need to take extra care to make sure certain items don’t lose their value or become completely unusable while they’re put away. Fortunately, we’re here to help you figure that out.
In this article, we’ll cover some common items that require specialized storage and provide guidance on where to look if you’re unsure, as well as give a few long-term storage tips to keep everything in the best condition. By the end, you should have a good idea of which of your belongings need a little extra care before you put them away.
What’s the difference between standard and specialty storage?
While standard storage is a well-protected solution for many item types, specialty storage comes with some extra amenities to help protect its delicate contents from environmental damage. For example, specialized storage units often have climate control to keep them at a steady temperature and humidity. Other features include protection from UV light and insulation from vibrations, which you’ll often find in specialized wine storage.
Keep in mind that these units come with a bit of a steeper cost, but if you’re serious about keeping your valuable and important items protected, the extra expense will be worth it to avoid having to repair or replace them. The following list will be a good guide to telling which of your items need specialty storage, but as a rule of thumb, if it’s difficult to replace and can be damaged by the wrong environmental conditions, look into specialty storage for it.
Electronics and technology
Why do electronics need special care?
Electronics storage requires some extra attention, because devices like computers, game consoles, and small kitchen appliances are complicated. Any computer chips and wiring connections within them can be damaged by moisture in the air, and rapidly changing temperatures can cause the exteriors to expand and contract. Batteries left in any devices you store can also leak or even burst, damaging any important data you may have left on them.
What are some best practices for storing electronics?
Most electronics can be stored in a standard unit, so long as you take some precautions before doing so:
- Remove the batteries before you store any devices. This will keep the batteries from leaking and the components from being damaged by corroded battery acid.
- Use anti-static packaging to protect electronic components from any unwanted shocks.
- Pack devices in their original boxes and packaging if you still have them.
- Store on an elevated surface in case a unit suffers flood damage.
- Keep instruction manuals and cables nearby so you can set the device up again when necessary.
For best results, rent a climate-controlled unit for electronics storage to make sure humidity doesn’t veer too far away from 45% (this level of moisture won’t damage electronics) and temperature stays within the range of 50-80°F.
How do I store my electronics long-term?
If you’re storing electronics in a unit for a longer period, make sure you take certain devices out to power them on for a bit every so often to keep them working. Store them with silica gel packets to prevent excess moisture, and take photos of each device so you can be sure they come out of storage in the same condition that they went in.
Wine and spirits
Why does wine require specialty storage?
A collection of valuable wine or vintage spirits is easy to store improperly. With too little moisture in the air, a cork will dry out; with too much, the wine can become oxidized and lose its flavor. Hot and cold temperatures can also ruin the taste, as can ultraviolet rays if sunlight is allowed to shine on the bottle for too long. Vibration can disturb the wine’s sediment and keep it from aging as well as it should.
How do I store wine properly?
Here are a few wine storage tips if you’re planning on handling the task at home.
- A temperature range of around 55°F.
- Humidity between 50% and 70%.
- Storage that keeps the bottles horizontal to avoid drying out the cork.
- A dark environment with no UV light.
- Protection from vibrations.
What storage solutions should I look for when storing wine?
You’ll find plenty of professional wine storage cellars in storage facilities near you. These units offer all the conditions outlined above with high-quality climate control, light protection, and vibration isolation. For a smaller collection, consider getting a wine refrigerator that offers all the same amenities in a smaller package.
If you’d rather not rent a wine cellar or build one in your house, you can DIY a horizontal wine storage rack at home and keep your bottles on their sides inside it. No matter what you choose, though, take pictures and document each bottle if your collection is valuable.
What other wine storage tips should I consider?
It may be worth considering wine collection insurance in case you’re worried about your collection being damaged. Seek out a reputable provider and see what plans work best for your needs. If you want periodic access to your collection, make sure you rent at a facility with 24/7 access to cram visits into your busy schedule.
If you’re storing spirits or liquors, look for the same conditions as a wine cellar, with one important difference: vertical storage. Unlike wine, you don’t want spirits to come into contact with their caps or corks for too long, as this can affect their taste.
Musical instruments
Why do instruments need special storage?
- Wood instruments and humidity sensitivity
- String tension and climate effects
- Electronic component protection
- Finish and varnish preservation
Musical instruments of all kinds are intricate and complicated, and any little bit of damage can throw off their sound or condition. Wood instruments are prone to warping and cracking when humidity changes. Stringed instruments can have their strings rust or snap when the climate shifts, and instruments with a shiny finish or varnish can have their surfaces damaged by moisture. Look out when storing instruments with electronic components as well, as these can be damaged by moisture too.
What storage needs do different instruments have?
- String instruments (guitars, violins, cellos): Steady temperature and humidity, and protection from UV to prevent the finish and paint from fading.
- Pianos and keyboards: A controlled climate and a proper cover to keep moisture from damaging the many parts. Pianos also require specialized movers to get them from your home to the storage unit and vice versa.
- Wind and brass instruments: A controlled climate to prevent rust and warping.
- Drums and percussion: A controlled climate to keep wood parts from splitting or warping and metal parts from rusting or corroding.
What should I do if storing an instrument long-term?
If you’re using a climate-controlled storage unit to keep your instruments in, make sure it’s at 40% to 60% humidity to prevent extra moisture in the air from damaging them. Store instruments in good-quality cases and position them properly to avoid crushing damage, and loosen or remove any strings so they don’t warp or rust. Make sure you check in on your instrument to give it a test and adjust it if needed to prevent long-term damage.
What other tips should I consider when storing instruments?
- If storing at home, get a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep the storage area at the right level of humidity.
- If storing in a unit, make sure you don’t take an instrument directly from one extreme temperature environment to another; give it time to adjust.
- Get in touch with a luthier or other instrument professional to have your instrument set up and fine-tuned after you’re done storing it.
Fine art and collectibles
Why does art require specialty storage?
Fine art of all kinds, such as paintings and sculptures, needs an extremely controlled environment if you’re storing it long-term. Light can cause paintings to fade and sculptures to degrade, temperature changes can warp and damage frames and canvas, and humidity can cause paint to run and mold to collect. Fine art is an investment, and it’s worth investing more in climate-controlled storage to keep it from losing its value.
What storage works best for different art mediums?
- Oil paintings can be stored upright in cardboard packaging wrapped in cushioning material.
- Watercolors and other works on paper can be stored horizontally.
- Acrylic paintings should be stored in metal packaging rather than cardboard to protect from moisture.
- Sculptures and 3D art should be stored in climate-controlled spaces and given plenty of space to protect fragile materials.
- Photography and prints should be stored in document storage boxes.
- Textiles and fiber art should be carefully folded and kept in a plastic tub or acid-free box with silica gel packets.
What special storage techniques should I consider for fine art?
- Acid-free materials and archival wrapping
- Vertical vs. horizontal storage
- Climate control requirements (consistent 70°F, 50% humidity)
- Light elimination strategies
- Pest prevention
Whatever space you choose to store your fine art in, store it using acid-free materials that won’t damage the art if they break down. Make sure the climate is at the museum standard of 70°F and 50% humidity, and keep any windows closed and blocked to keep light from getting in. Use any pest control methods necessary to keep bugs and rodents away… or just rent a storage unit that’s built to keep pests out.
Important documents and photos
How can documents and photos be damaged by environmental conditions?
Important legal documents and heirloom photos alike suffer more and more damage as they get older, such as paper products deteriorating from acid and photos being faded and degraded by UV light. Obsolete digital media that stores precious memories needs special care as well.
What are the best practices for storing documents?
Documents and photos are best stored in archival-quality containers and sleeves, or other acid-free packing and storage materials that won’t release damaging acids if they break down; you should also consider storing them in fireproof and waterproof containers.
Keep them in a cool, dry, and dark place to prevent environmental damage, and properly organize documents within a box to make them easy to find when you need them. It’s also worth scanning or taking photos of each document, so you have a digital backup.
Which document types require special care?
- Legal documents, business records and archives, and property records. If you don’t have backups of these, they may be impossible to replace, so keep them in as cool, dry, and dark a place as possible.
- Family photographs and negatives. Use an acid-free storage album within a controlled environment to prevent photos from fading.
- Historical papers and heirlooms. Store these individually to keep them from contacting and damaging each other.
How do I choose the right specialty storage facility for my needs?
Features to look for
Here are a few of the best features for specialty storage if you’re looking to protect something from the environment.
- Precise climate control capabilities to keep moisture and temperature from damaging your valuables.
- Security measures and monitoring to deter burglars and vandals.
- 24/7 access so you can check in on your belongings at any time.
Check with a facility before you rent to make sure you have any insurance needs covered, and do some consumer research to see if the facility you’re considering has a good or bad track record with storing valuables.
Questions to ask storage facilities
- What temperature and humidity ranges do your climate-controlled units operate at?
- What backup climate control systems do you have in place in case of a power outage?
- What pest control measures do you take?
- How do you protect your units in the event of a natural disaster?
Using SpareFoot to find a unit
If you’re looking for a specialty storage facility near you, you’re in the right place! Use SpareFoot’s built-in search tool to compare prices and sort by the features you need most of all, such as climate control and wine storage.
You can also read reviews of facilities by other collectors or owners of specialty objects to make sure the business you’re considering has a good reputation and get some more long-term storage tips when renting.
How do I continue to protect my investment with specialty storage?
Valuables are an investment, and investing in specialty storage to protect them is always going to be worthwhile. Go through the delicate and valuable items you own and figure out what kind of storage unit to look for, and be sure to come back to SpareFoot when you’re ready to search and compare prices all in one place!
Peter Lalush
