Let's summarize a few things to keep in mind to ensure your records remain in top quality for future generations.


Protect from heat and sun.

Records are made from a plastic called vinyl. This material begins to show signs of melting at approximately 40-45 degrees Celsius. At temperatures close to this level, the melting can be invisible. However, the downside is that the grooves on the record stick together, making it unplayable. Even if the record isn't warped, the heat makes it unplayable. Therefore, it's essential to avoid exposing records to direct sunlight and heat. Furthermore, records left in a car trunk or inside a car, especially during the summer months, begin to warp very quickly.


Store them upright.

Records that press horizontally against each other will begin to warp over time. This is because the thickness of the label on the center hub of 12" records creates an increased pressure outside the rim when stacked. The center hub of 7" records is thicker than the rim. For the same reason, warping is inevitable when stored horizontally. Therefore, you should always store all your records upright.


Use protective inner and outer sleeves.

It's important to use high-quality protective plastic wrap for your records. While the protective plastic wrap primarily protects the cover, it's essential because it reduces the risk of records falling and breaking. The protective sleeve prevents potential scratches on the record's surface. Furthermore, by placing the open end of the cover and the cover perpendicular to each other, you prevent the record from slipping and collecting dust on the shelf. To avoid unseen scratches on the paper, choose record sleeves with antistatic polyethylene linings.


Take care to prevent wear and tear on the cover and labels.

Collectors know very well that the cover and labels are as valuable as the records themselves. Of course, the cover and labels, like the records themselves, cannot remain intact for decades. Therefore, do not write, glue, or tape anything on the cover. Repair any cover that needs repair with care and attention. Do not expose the record core label to any liquid. For worn-out covers, you can have new covers printed by our printing service, Plak Kapak. For more information, please visit www.plakkapak.com.


Protecting the inside and outside of the cover.

Cover covers are designed for packaging purposes rather than protecting the records. Therefore, avoiding contact between the hard cover and the record is an important step to prevent unseen micro-scratches. If you want to store records inside the cover, be sure to use an inner sleeve that fits inside the cover. The importance of storing records outside the cover is to prevent the record from becoming scratched on the record covers, which become pressed together over time. To achieve this, you can place the record between the protective plastic and the cover using another sleeve.


Clean Periodically.

Records, whether played or not, accumulate dust and become dirty over time. A carbon fiber record cleaning brush or cleaning velvet can be used to remove surface dust before listening. Additionally, we should be careful to clean records for daily use with liquid cleaners designed for record use. You can find detailed information about plaque cleaning in the other blog post.