2. analog
  3. 193949-1647

Record Storage Problem

Outer sleeves are a problem. I know that is going to be a contested statement, but it has been my experience over decades of collecting that often as not records stored in outer sleeves develop mold. This was first suggested to me in the early 1970s in Seattle, a Mediterranean Climate, and I thought OK maybe it is a concern in certain regions. Then I encountered it in San Diego, a Semi-Arid Climate. Currently I am sorting through a large estate collection in South Florida, that reportedly has always, ALWAYS, I am assured, been under air conditioning. Most of the records are protected by outer sleeves and most have mold. This is about 8,000 records. So you may wish to rethink your strategy. What is the priority: The vinyl or the jacket?

billstevenson
facten
2,932 posts
 

The three record stores in Memphis have all of their used albums in plastic outer sleeves

mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
5,372 posts
 

I have been collecting records for over 50 years now.  I have thousands of LPs that have ALWAYS been in outer plastic sleeves.  I have always lived in the Rocky Mountain region and have NEVER seen or encountered this issue?

I even just went through a few in my collection at random to check and they are as clean as when I bought them...

 

inagroove
161 posts
 

My collection, ask one point was 4,200 or so, has always been in SEALED outer sleeves (the resealing type).  Not a hint of mold.  They have been in every floor of the house, without issue.

Even the LPs that I gave away and sat in an unconditioned room for a few weeks were unaffected.

I hope that helps.

inagroove
161 posts
 

P.S. I am currently in the S.E. US, where it is hot and steamy for 6 months of the year.

dwette
259 posts
 

I'm in the St. Louis area (i.e. high humidity in summer months). My collection of some 5000 LPs – acquired over the last 50 years to now – is mostly (not box sets) wrapped in Sleeve City 5 mil sleeves, and there is no evidence of mold anywhere. In fact, recently I went through it all to catalog in Discogs. I pulled many discs out that haven't been played in ages (decades) to check runouts, etc for the proper Discogs entries. No sign of mold at all. 

My records are all stored on Ikea Kallax shelves in HVAC controlled rooms. I'm not really worried about. 

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