Movie lovers sure are passionate about their motion pictures! Many of us recognize it though, right? We find a movie that we really like, buy it on DVD, watch it over and over again and each time very carefully put it away, in hopes of keeping scratches at bay. It’s a lot easier nowadays thanks in part to YouTube, Netflix and Hulu, but how many of us still have boxes full of DVDs? I do! And I have no plans on tossing anything, anytime soon. If you’re like me, you know that degradation over time is inevitable. Most CDs and DVDs can last more than 20 years if handled with care, so there are certainly some things we can do to help keep their longevity. That’s precisely what we’ll go over in this blog. If you like what you read below, do us a solid and return the good karma by liking our Facebook page and joining the social community of creative enthusiasts. Here we go! #1. Be mindful of temperature. Generally, CDs and DVDs last longer if stored at low temperatures, somewhere around 62-70 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s always best to keep the temperature constant as well, within max +/- 2 degrees fluctuation. #2. Humidity is very important as well. Low relative humidity is very important to longevity. Discs are made up of mostly polycarbonate substrate (plastic) and that composition is vulnerable to moisture. Typically a good level of relative humidity is around 35-50% and that level shouldn’t fluctuate more than +/- 5%. #3. Keep the DVDs away from direct sunlight. In a matter of days, the direct exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays will contribute to dye layer degradation and warping, which will make the DVD unreadable by a player. Store in a dark place. #4. Cleaning. It’s always best to make sure that your DVDs are fully cleaned and dry before placing them in long term storage. Studies have found that fingerprints, smudges, dirt and dust will frequently cause more damage than scratches so cleaning is instrumental. However! Contact with strong solvents like acetone or benzene must be avoided at all costs. They will dissolve the plastic material and cause irreparable damage. Mild solvents like isopropyl alcohol or methanol evaporate quickly which makes them ok, but still contact should be limited. Discs should be held by the outer edge or the center hole and cleaned with a cotton cloth, by wiping in a straight line from the center of the disc toward the outer edge. #5. Marking. Never use a fine point or rolling ball marker as it may scratch the surface and never write on them with your regular marker. Look for CD-safe markers that do not contain any harmful solvents. Also, stay away from adhesive labels as well. Those labels can delaminate over time and interfere with the disc drive operation. #6. Storage. Gravity can gradually bend the disc so for maximum longevity, discs should be stored vertically (like a book) in "jewel" cases that are designed expressly for CDs/DVDs. Stacking or placing any objects on top of the disc cases may cause warping and other damage. If this was helpful, Like us on Facebook and leave us a comment – say Hi, introduce yourself and let us know you came from this blog. To popcorn, hot dogs, a GOOD movie and all your storage needs, US Storage Centers
