If you’ve got a fantastic collection of trading cards that you keep as a hobby, or if you collect and sell trading cards as a business, you’ll want to make sure they’re safe and in the best possible condition. And to do that, you’ll need to make sure they’re stored properly.
To take some of the guesswork out of storing your trading cards, the team at EZ Storage® made this post to go over a few of the different things that you’ll need to keep in mind. Whether you’re placing them in a personal self-storage unit or a business unit, our advice will help make sure you get the most out of your collection.
What Are Some Ways Trading Cards Can Get Damaged?
When it comes to keeping trading cards safe, most collectors worry about the potential damage caused by humidity, direct sunlight, and water.
Humidity
Exposure to humidity over time can cause your trading cards to curl and bend, or appear wavy. It can also roughen the surface of your trading cards, while high levels of humidity can even lead to discoloration.
Direct Sunlight
As with many printed materials, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can discolor your valuable trading cards, making them appear pale and taking away a large amount of their value. Making sure your cards aren’t stored in direct sunlight is critical.
Water Damage
Whether it’s a leaky pipe, a spilled water bottle, a flooded basem*nt, or some other disaster, exposing your trading cards to water can discolor them, bend their shape, and lead to mold and mildew. As most collectors know, water damage is just about the worst thing that can happen to your collection.
How to Store Your Cards
Wondering how to store your cards? Below, we’ve brought together a few pointers.
Organize and Sort Your Trading Cards
This is an important first step. Sorting through your trading cards and finding a way to organize and catalog them is important. That way, you’ll have a better understanding of your collection and will be able to find specific cards whenever you want to see them — whether that’s to sell them or just to show them to a friend or family member.
Adding Protective Sleeves
For valuable cards, it’s a no-brainer to put them in a protective sleeve, which will help protect them from scratches, dirt, grime, and other common types of damage. Plus, you won’t end up with bent corners on all of your favorite cards. You’ll have a few options, from more affordable penny sleeves to nicer, but more expensive, card savers.
Store in a Binder or Trading Card Box
Once your cards are organized and sleeved up, it’s time to put them in binders or card boxes. This will add further protection, especially from sun and water damage, and will also help to organize your collection further. Binders are often the best option, though they’re slightly more expensive, so if you have a massive collection card boxes can be a great, safe alternative.
Storing Your Trading Cards in a Storage Unit
To guarantee the safety of your collection, it can be a good idea to place it in a storage unit. Not only will storing your trading cards in a storage unit offer peace of mind knowing they’re in a safe, secure location, but it will also help keep them in the best possible condition, especially if you use climate-controlled storage.
At EZ Storage® we offer a variety of storage options that will keep your trading cards safe from the dangers of water damage, heat, and humidity. With constant temperatures and great ventilation, climate-controlled storage units are the perfect solution for your long-term trading card storage needs.
Card Storage FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about how to store your trading cards in storage, and how to do it safely, we’ve brought together answers to some frequently asked questions below.
How Do You Store Trading Cards Safely?
Trading cards can be safely stored in binders. If you have a lot of cards, it’s also safe to place each card in a protective sleeve and then store them in card storage boxes.
Do Card Savers Bend Cards?
No. If used properly, card savers are actually one of the best ways to prevent your trading cards from bending or warping.
How Do You Protect Expensive Cards?
Expensive cards are best stored individually in polypropylene sleeves in binders. You might also place your expensive cards in a card saver after you’ve put them in a sleeve. When it comes to location, a safety deposit box or climate-controlled storage unit might be worth it.
Are Binders Good For Trading Cards?
Yes. Binders are a great way to organize your collection, prevent sun damage, and stop your trading cards from curling or bending over time.
