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3 Ways to Protect Your Art and Photos for Storage

Works of fine art and photographs are two visual arts that play an integral part in most people's lives. They add beauty to each day and can be a cornerstone of comfort in the home. Whether you are moving, downsizing, or simply need to put some art or photos in storage, it's important to carefully pack art and photos before placing them in storage.

1. Clean All Items Prior to Storing Them

Just before you go to pack and store your photos and artwork, be sure that each piece is clean.

If you've had them stored elsewhere before, don't just relocate them from one place to another. Take the time to assess the condition of each piece and clean it. Look for the most common causes of damage, like smudges, fingerprints, stains from smoking, and food stains.

Dust each piece with a microfiber cloth. If the piece has any layers or particularly delicate areas, be careful to vary the pressure applied as you clean it. It's best to avoid putting your hands directly on delicate areas of artwork. Breakage and tears during cleaning can often be avoided by gently handling each piece.

Clean art and photo frames separately from the art if they are dirty. Be careful when removing the art from the frames, and then gently clean the glass on a clean, flat surface. If the frame has Plexiglas, clean it with a gentle, ammonia-free cleaner. Also, rather than spray the glass in the frame with your cleaning solution, first pour it onto a dust-free cloth, and then gently clean the glass

2. Wrap Your Art Carefully

Before you put any art in a box for storage, think about how it will hold up over time. For example, if you are planning to just move the box from room to room, then you probably won't second-guess your decision to stack art. However, if you plan on long-term storage, then never put a beloved painting or print at the bottom of a stack.

If you have an original painting that you want to store, make sure that you carefully wrap the work of art so that nothing will directly touch the painted surface. Have the original painting framed prior to storing it for more protection. If possible, use a separate box for each painting.

3. Treat Photos as the Fragile Keepsakes They Are

Personal photographs are the way people archive their lives, and these visual treasures can bring back happy memories with one glance. When preparing your pictures for storage, treat them as precious mementos because they are fragile keepsakes. Never just toss them in a box.

If your photos were once in a photo album or hanging on a wall, be careful to check to see if they still have sticky substances on the back of the pictures. Tape or glue can stick to other photos and potentially strip the image or otherwise damage them. Be sure to remove the glue or tape. If any remnants remain, be sure to wrap each photo separately to avoid damaging other pictures.

Before storing your photos, consider scanning them for digital storage as a backup plan. It's a good idea to have photos stored online and on two external hard drives. You may opt to back up the pictures to an external hard drive that you keep with you and one that you place in self-storage.

Finally, contact B & R Self Storage with any questions or concerns regarding your self-storage options for your works of art, photographs, and more. With top security measures, including 24-hour surveillance, you can trust that your beautiful, artistic treasures are stored in a safe, secure environment.

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