Protecting your collectibles is key to keeping them looking their best and also maintaining their value. And while you might know the basics when it comes to preserving your prized pieces, having a handle on the various environmental factors that can wreak havoc on your collectibles is crucial if you want to keep them looking – and selling – their best.
But how can the environment in which you keep your cards cause damage? And what is the best way to keep your cards safe from environmental damage?
Here are some tips, tricks, and tools for protecting your trading card collection from environmental damage.
What are some common trading card storage mistakes at home?
We’ll start with a few things you shouldn’t do – or should stop doing immediately.
Keeping your collection in damp, humid areas
Can humidity ruin trading cards? Yes, it absolutely can.
Storing your cards in damp or humid areas can lead to warping, mold growth, and getting cards stuck together. This becomes an issue because some of the most common places to store household items – garages and basements – can be dank and damp due to poor insulation and air circulation.
Damp, humid conditions are one reason why many of those “forgotten” collections people unearth in their relatives’ homes are often unsalvageable.
Direct sunlight
Sunlight can also ruin your trading card collection.
Too much sun can cause your cards to fade, tarnishing their beloved eye appeal and hurting their value. This is true even if they are in protective holders. If you’re displaying your cards around your home, make sure they’re not in direct sunlight, or near surfaces that reflect sunlight onto them.
Stuffing cards into storage containers
While keeping cards in proper storage containers (i.e. sleeves and cardboard boxes specifically designed for the task) can be a great way to safely store trading cards at home, jamming them in haphazardly can do more harm than good. Too much pressure and piling can damage your cards’ shapes, especially if they’re not in protective sleeves. This means plastic holders with "screw down" offerings can also damage cards.
And don’t forget that cardboard boxes can be susceptible to damage from water, animals, and young children who get ahold of your cards.
How can you protect your trading card collection from the environment?
Regardless of where you live, there are several steps you can take to protect your trading cards.
Professional grading and authentication
One is to get your cards professionally graded or authenticated. Professional grading comes with a range of benefits, including a professionally sealed case for your card. These cases, called slabs, provide great protection for your card from the environment.
However, it’s important to realize that professionally grading your cards costs money. If you have a large collection, it might not be feasible – or worthwhile – to get all your cards professionally graded, especially common cards you aren’t as fond of or don’t think hold much resale value.
Protect your cards with Fanatics Collect's grading and authentication partnerships:
Vaulting services
Storing your trading card collection in a vault built specifically to house collectibles is another great option if you’re worried about your cards being damaged by the environment.
The Fanatics Collect Vault features temperature controls that keep conditions optimal for trading cards and other collectibles.
In addition to protection, the Fanatics Collect Vault also gives you insurance, real-time valuations, and streamlined access to selling options including Weekly and Premier Auctions and the Fanatics Collect Buy Now marketplace. And, with Fanatics Collect's digital portfolio and mobile offerings, you can share high-resolution images of your collectibles with anyone, anywhere, anytime – as long as there is an internet connection!
At-home trading card collection storage tips
While professional grading and vault storage are generally the safest ways to protect and store your trading cards to preserve their condition and value, there are some other things you can do at home to preserve your collectibles
Plastic protective sleeves are the easiest and most cost-effective way to protect a large number of cards. Penny sleeves – also called soft sleeves – are a common component of trading card storage. They’re often paired with top loaders, which are harder protective sleeves. Semi-rigid card holders are also an option paired with sleeves for when you plan to ship your cards off to a grading company or a vault.
Once sleeved, you can store your cards in specially designed cardboard boxes. Try to keep these boxes off the ground if possible, as that could save you the heartache of damage due to flooding or water seepage. This also makes it harder for pets and children to get ahold of your collection.
Don’t keep your cards in plastic binder sleeves. Environmental conditions can combine with pressure from stacking and cause the cards to stick to the small plastic compartments, ruining surfaces. Binder rings can also dent or damage the edges of your cards.
Knowing what environmental factors can do to your trading card collection – and some ways to potentially combat them – can help save you the pain of losing your collection to the elements. At the very least, it’s vital to do the bare minimum and protect your cards through proper storage.
But remember that the bare minimum might cause you to bear the brunt of environmental factors lurking around the corner – factors that can be mitigated by professional trading card storage.
Learn more about the Fanatics Collect Vault: