What Temperature Should Vinyl Records Be Stored In?

What Temperature Should Vinyl Records Be Stored In?

Knowing the right condition to store your sound records is the responsibility of every vinyl-loving individual. Keeping them in an ideal environment preserves the state of your vinyl, as well as extends the life of your disc for as long as you can conserve the space. 

You might have read or heard that a vinyl’s number one demise would be the heat. Well, these hearsays don’t go unfounded as high levels of heat and direct light could cause warping or even melt of your records. As for humidity, your album covers might bear the brunt of the damage. Your album covers (generally made of paper) could expand and shrink at various rates as a result of dampness. If your vinyl sleeves are kept in extremely hot and humid environments, they may begin to distort or mold. 

So What Temperature Should Your Vinyl Records Be Kept In?

A dependable and secure storage space supporting climate-controlled would be the best option. Temperatures of 65° to 70°F (18 to 21°C) and humidity levels of 45 to 50% have been proven to be excellent for vinyl record storage. At 140°F (60°C), a standard vinyl record will begin to distort due to the heat, and at temperatures beyond 212°F (100°C), it will melt. Likewise, refrain from storing your records in temperatures below freezing (0°C) to decrease the risk of them breaking.

Providing your records with an ideal environment may seem like a troublesome task, but going the extra mile ensures that your vinyl is kept in tip-top condition. Rest assured that your records are stronger than they look and warping is more of how you keep them; temperature is secondary and less of a concern if you store them properly.

How Should You Be Storing Your Records?

1. Before placing your records in their cover, make sure they’re clean

You probably own a record cleaning brush if you collect records. If you don’t have one, you may get one online or at a local music store. Dust and grime may be easily removed using these brushes by simply spinning the record gently while holding the brush on it.

Additionally, You may purchase a vinyl-cleaning solution if you have a record that needs a more thorough cleaning. Simply spray the solution on the record, avoiding the label, and wipe in a circular motion with a microfiber cloth. This should be done every six months to keep your records looking and sounding great.

2. Store albums in their covers at all times

According to most vinyl experts, the only time the record should be taken out of its jacket is when it is being played. That implies you should put your record away once you’ve finished listening to it. Do not allow dust and debris to accumulate on the records by leaving them on the turntable longer than required, which might affect sound quality.

3. Keep your record collection upright when not in use

To keep vinyl records in good condition, it would be good to keep them upright. Unequal pressure applied to records that have been kept at a slant for a lengthy period of time might warp. This is why records are frequently stored in boxes that allow them to stand upright. 

4. Records should never be placed on top of one other

Stacking your record collection, whether in their jackets or not, might irreversibly harm your recordings. The added weight may cause the vinyl to distort and perhaps fracture or scuff. When you stack records in storage, you’re also jeopardizing the album sleeve artwork.

We have attached three videos below that we found might be useful to you:

How to Store Vinyl Records
How to Store and Protect Vinyl Records
Vinyl Record Storage

Lastly, we have also written articles on how you can store your vinyl records without covers and ways to prevent or fix vinyl warping so make sure to check them out.

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