We’re starting a series on our self-storage blog on how to store various household items in a storage unit. We’ll start this “Storing in a Storage Unit” series with one of the most precious things you might have in storage, photographs! People say photographs are the first thing they’d rescue in a fire right after their family… so let’s learn how to store them correctly.
We researched storing photographs with some top conservators in Dallas, Texas, and compiled their advice into the following self storage tips:
Photographs are best stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated storage environment. High temperatures and humidity promote mold and mildew, which mar surfaces and break down the layers binding photographs together. Don’t store photos in an environment with fluctuating temperatures like an attic, or basement (not a problem in the Dallas area!), or along outside walls of buildings where condensation is more likely to occur. Climate-controlled storage units can help minimize deterioration due to environmental factors. North Texas Self Storage offers climate-controlled self storage units in our Carrollton, Dallas, Lewisville, and Denton Tap self storage locations. So, if you’re storing photographs in a non-climate-controlled storage unit, you might call to ask your storage facility if a storage unit with climate control is available.
When storing photos choose a storage container that protects them from dust and light. Use chemically stable plastic or paper enclosures free of sulfur, acids, and peroxides. For example, don’t store your photographs in albums with sticky or magnetic pages. Use plastic sleeves to store your negatives. They should always be clear plastic, not frosted. For especially precious photographs, you can find archival storage boxes at Talas, Light Impressions, and locally at the Container Store.
Film-based negatives (remember those?) can produce acidic gases as they age and should be stored separately from photographs. Really old photographs like daguerreotypes should ideally be stored in their original cases or frames and boxed in a four-flap paper enclosure to reduce wear and tear.
Another consideration when storing your photographs is pest damage. Paper fibers, albumen, and gelatin binders that hold photographs together provide an attractive food source for insects. Be sure when packing your photos in storage boxes that everything is clean and pest-free.
Storing photographs in albums is a good idea to protect them, but magnetic or self-adhesive albums can ultimately damage photographs and should not be used. Look for archival storage albums to keep everything safe and sound for generations to come!
We hope these photography self storage tips were helpful. Remember, North Texas Self Storage is here to answer any of your storage questions. Just post a reply here, email us at info@northtexasstorage.com, or call one of our storage locations near you!
Addison Airport Self Storage 972-380-2112
Carrollton Self Storage 972-418-7558
Forest Central Self Storage (Dallas) 214-503-9966
Lewisville Self Storage 972-221-8900
Denton Tap (Lewisville) Self Storage 972-956-0800
Frame Street (Denton) Self Storage 940-382-1655
Tyler Street (Oak Cliff) Self Storage 214-375-4460