Question From Carol E. About Storing Collectibles

Was very impressed with the info on your website and with customer reviews.  Most likely I will order very soon when I decide what I will need for storage of my collectibles.  My most important question re:  storage is what type of box should I store "unboxed as well as boxed collectibles?"  Most of my collectibles are holiday items from the 20's through the early 60's.  I am somewhat perplexed as to the type of storage box I should use.  If plastic...what type of plastic is acid free or acceptable to us. Or can I use cardboard?  Can you help me with this?  Thank you so much.

And the main points of my reply:

Good Morning, Carol:

Your question is a good one and there is a lot of misinformation out there.  Some say never use plastic and some say all cardboard is acidic.  Neither is true.

There are harmful plastics and there are safe plastics and some cardboard is treated with buffering agents and so is acid-free.

Archival board is very expensive and I have never felt it offers the protection an inert plastic does.  Plastic offers much better protection against water damage (say in the event of a burst pipe or leaking roof) and better resistance to pests.

Conservators and curators widely use polypropylene boxes for storage.  The material is completely inert and so is safe for all materials.  As long as the box is not made airtight there is enough breathability when stored in climate-controlled areas of the home.  Look for the recycling code '5' or the letter 'PP'.  Rubbermaid and Sterilite's white translucent boxes are commercial examples that are readily available.

Quite often ornaments and collectibles come in their own boxes.  Since these offer a custom fit and protection, I think it's fine to leave them in the boxes they came in and wrap those in archival tissue and then store them all in the aforementioned outer boxes.

Some owners of very collectible and/or precious items like to store the boxes and the ornaments separately lest the box material affect the contents.  Flocked lining, for example, might deteriorate and the small bits get stuck to glitter or snow or metalwork.  You can use your discretion there.

The tissue acts as an environmental buffer, protecting the contents from environmental acids and helping maintaining stable humidity levels.  It is also non-tarnishing.  If you have any baked ornaments - whether clay or bread or cookie dough, those should be in an archival sleeve or small glass or polypropylene box (some kitchen storage containers will work - look on the bottom for the code) with a desiccant pack so that they stay dry.