This week, we’ll be talking about our next enemy, which is really a collection of enemies. I call it: The Gang.

There’s nobody really new here. I just wanted to emphasize that you can get multiple enemies working together, and this type of situation will destroy your treasures even more quickly!

Some dangerous combinations you frequently find are light and heat, humidity/moisture and heat, moisture and insects, and moisture and mold. Or if you’re really unlucky, you can even get moisture, heat, insects, And mold all together! That’s…not a situation you want to find yourself in.  

In general terms, for the types of vulnerable materials we’ve been talking about over the last few weeks—like paintings, papers, photos and negatives, wooden items, musical instruments, plastics—you want to avoid bright, direct light, such as sunlight or fluorescent lights. Keep the humidity and temperature moderate—if it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s probably uncomfortable for your treasures.

Avoid really warm areas like attics and garages. Cold is generally okay, but you want to avoid rapid fluctuations in temperature, which can cause rapid humidity fluctuations. Keeping the temperature and humidity stable is also generally more important than maintaining a specific number. Of course, you don’t want the humidity to go over about 70% since that leaves your items susceptible to mold and insect infestations.

For storage, you want to use acid-free, archival materials. Food-grade plastic storage boxes and food storage bags are good choices. Avoid cardboard and newspaper! Don’t store your treasures in areas that aren’t climate controlled—like attics and garages, or in basements where they can get flooded. If you do need to store things in a basement, use plastic storage boxes and try to raise them at least a few inches off the floor.

If you’ve missed any of the previous posts, you can go back and check them out here.

What storage and display concerns have you identified over the last few weeks? Tell me in the comments.

Missed the previous posts? Start at the beginning of the collection care series here.

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