The Safest Way to Store Photographs and Documents

Whether they’re cherished family photos, important business documents, or treasured letters from loved ones, preserving the quality and integrity of your photographs and documents is important to most people. Over time, environmental factors such as light, heat, and humidity can cause irreversible damage.

One of the safest ways to store photographs and documents is by using a climate-controlled self storage unit that protects them from these harmful conditions. Self storage offers a secure and reliable solution to keep these items safe for years to come.

Here’s how you can ensure the best protection for your precious memories and essential paperwork:

1. Choose the Right Environment

The key to preserving photographs and documents is controlling the environment that they are stored in.By storing your photographs and documents in a climate controlled storage unit, the temperature and humidity level can be constantly controlled. Ideally, the temperature should be kept between 18-21 degrees Celsius with humidity levels at 30-50%.
This helps prevent the growth of mould and mildew, which can destroy paper and photographic materials.

Arden Self Storage offers a great range of climate-controlled storage units that are perfect for safeguarding your valuable photographs and documents. With our state-of-the-art facilities, you can rest assured that your items are protected.

Contact us today to find out more about our storage solutions and how we can help preserve your most precious memories and essential paperwork.

2. Use Appropriate Containers

Store your items in high-quality, acid-free photo albums, archival boxes, or plastic bins with seals to protect against dust, pests, and water damage. Avoid using cardboard boxes as they might attract pests and are susceptible to water damage.

For photographs, specifically, it’s also a good idea to use photo sleeves made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester (Mylar) to avoid sticking and chemical damage.

3. Avoid Light Exposure

Light can severely degrade both photographs and documents by causing fading and discoloration. Keep your storage containers in a dark place within your storage unit. Never store important photos or documents in direct sunlight or in bright areas.

4. Organise for Accessibility

Organise your documents and photographs systematically to avoid frequent handling and potential damage. Label all containers clearly and consider creating a digital inventory to track where everything is stored. This not only minimises the need to search through items (and therefore reduces handling) but also ensures that you can easily locate specific documents or photos when needed.

5. Handle with Care

Whenever you handle photographs or documents, do so with clean, dry hands or wear cotton gloves to prevent the oils in your skin from transferring to the materials. Also, avoid using clips or rubber bands, which can cause physical damage over time.

6. Regular Checks

Periodically check on your stored items to ensure that the environmental conditions remain stable and that no damage has occurred. This is also an opportunity to refresh silica gel packs if used, which help control moisture in sealed containers.

7. Consider Digital Backup

While physical storage is essential, creating digital backups of your photographs and documents offers an additional layer of security. Digitise your items using a scanner and store the files in multiple locations (external hard drives, online storage solutions, etc.).

Contact Us

At Arden Self Storage we provide secure, climate-controlled units designed to protect your most valuable documents and photographs.

Located near Birmingham, Arden Self Storage is dedicated to providing secure, accessible, and adaptable storage solutions for both commercial and personal needs. We pride ourselves on delivering practical and secure storage options that adapt to our customers’ ever changing needs. Our facility is equipped with advanced security features, including individually alarmed units and 24/7 CCTV surveillance, ensuring the safety of your belongings.

We offer a diverse range of storage unit sizes and flexible rental agreements tailored to meet your specific requirements. At Arden Self Storage, we provide customised advice and solutions to ensure your storage experience is effortless and straightforward.

For more information about our self storage options, please contact us at 01675 442 827 or complete our online contact form.