How To Keep Your Books In Great Condition In Self Storage

Self storage is a great way to store books when your personal collection has gotten too large to enjoy at home. Here are simple tips to keep your books in great condition in self storage.

Self storage is a cheap, efficient way to store all kinds of items from clothes, garden furniture, sports equipment, documents and of course books. Despite the rise in popularity of e-readers, many of us still prefer a good book, which means most of us will acquire a pretty hefty collection of them over a lifetime. If your collection is getting huge and you simply don't have the space at the moment to create the perfect Beauty and the Beast style library (complete with steps on wheels!) then self storage london is a great option for you.

As books are all square or rectangle in shape, it would seem they are pretty easy to store - simply pile them in a strong box and seal the box. However, this isn't the case and all types of books actually need protecting properly when in storage for a long time. Books can fall victim to mould, mildew, wear and tear and staining. The spine of your books is particularly at risk when in storage. So if you value your books, or you have books of particular value you're going to need to make a little effort to keep them in good condition. Don't worry, it's not particularly difficult, it just takes a bit more time than putting them in a box. Plus it's worth it to keep them in good nick.

Cleaning The Books

One of the worst thing you can do when storing books is to store them when they are dusty or grubby as the materials on the book may become damaged after prolonged exposure to the dust and debris, and it makes the dusty or dirty book and surrounding books susceptible to staining. Clean your books gently before storing to give them the best chance of staying in good condition.

Simply hold the book shut to stop the debris getting inside, and use a dry cloth to wipe the spine and covers. If possible, use a damp cloth to wipe off any stubborn sticky marks. You should also check the pages of the book for any items that shouldn't be inside such as bookmarks, foliage, pressed flowers or other bits of paper. Items that shouldn't be in the book can damage the books pages, stain the pages, crease them or even rot the pages.

Packing The Books

Rather than packing your books in a large, strong box, opt for small amounts of books in small, strong boxes. Ensure you do not pack the books with any other items such as kitchenware or clothes - keep the books with other books.

The Box

You will want to make sure you use the right box to keep your books in. If you choose weak cardboard the box will deteriorate and leave the books exposed to damage. It may also leave the books susceptible to being dropped if the box breaks when it is being moved or lifted. It is also incredibly important you only choose dry boxes and check they are not damp at all. A damp cardboard box will not only rot and damage the books inside, but it will cause moisture to enter the air in your self storage unit, exposing other items to mildew as well.

The Labelling

If you want to be super organised, you can label your book boxes listing which books are contained in each book. This is time consuming but really useful when you're visiting your self storage unit to retrieve a particular book.

Hard Cover Books

With hard cover books, it is worth using a film jacket to protect them. These jackets should protect the covers and the top and bottom of the book.