How should I store my books?
With World Book Day taking place on March 2nd, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at two of the most frequently asked questions in our storage centers: how should I store my books? ? And how do I save space by storing books?
You are reading: How to store books in a garage
Many book lovers have more books than shelf space, leaving them with a dilemma as to where and how to store them. That’s why we’ve rounded up our best tips on how and where to store your books safely.
Ideally, books should be stored in a cool, dry place that is free from pests and not subject to regular temperature changes.
If, for example, books are stored in a place subject to high humidity, then mold can grow and cause untold damage. Also, don’t wrap books in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, as this will further encourage mold growth.
store books in plastic boxes
If, like me (and many of our customers), you have more books than you know what to do with, one of the best places to store them may be in plastic boxes. preferably opaque, with covers that prevent light from reaching the books and damaging them. Plastic boxes will also protect your books from rodents if you store them in a garage or garden shed, and they’re easy to stack in out of the way places. If you don’t need to access your books very often, plastic boxes can be a good option.
Where should I keep my boxes full of books?
Once you’ve filled numerous plastic boxes with books, the next question is often where to put the boxes.
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if you’re prepared to think outside the box (and pardon the terrible pun), then you won’t have a problem finding a place to put them. try to make sure they stay indoors if you can.
- stick boxes full of books under beds.
- or in the back of cupboards: under the stairs, in the hallway, in the back of cupboards.
- if you have a basement, which is dry and moisture free, why not make the most of the space by keeping your book boxes in it?
- try not to store your books in garages (unless the garage is fairly weatherproof, or attached to the house and subject to the joy of your central heating, this may be fine), sheds, or attic spaces. places like this can be subject to regular and drastic temperature changes, which can ruin the binding and paper of your books.
- If you complete the above options that you have access to and you still need space, do you why not? Consider renting storage space for your remaining boxes of books? Storage centers can be a cost-effective and reliable alternative to your own home, and they also give you the option to declutter some of your other things.
Why is humidity bad for my books?
If your books are stored in very hot and humid places, they can start to warp and get moldy. If you can, try to keep the humidity below 25%. good circulation of dry air is good for books.
Anything below 50-60% humidity should be fine for most books, but if you have old, rare, valuable, or even all three, try to keep humidity levels as low as possible.
keep books away from direct heat
If you store your books too close to heating vents, radiators, the backs of appliances that emit large amounts of heat, or other sources of direct heat, your books can warp and the glue on the bindings can start to melt or crack .
To protect books, try to store them in relatively cool places. a room temperature of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius is generally fine.
do not expose your books to direct sunlight
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will whiten the exposed sections of your books and can damage the binding and dry out the pages, making them stiff and brittle. If your books are not in opaque boxes and therefore protected from sunlight, try to ensure that the shelves they are on do not receive a large and prolonged amount of sunlight. try to store books in rooms with blinds over the windows, when possible.
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store books flat or upright
Whenever possible, books should be stored upright or face up to optimize their condition. the books are designed to be stored vertically. storing them this way will maintain the structural integrity of the book and allow you to read the spine when you want to find one.
never store books with the pages down, this will cause the spine to crack, the pages to open and damage the book, which will affect its shelf life.
protect books from bookworms
This is not meant to keep them away from voracious readers; although I have been known to fall asleep reading and wake up to a book that has been awkwardly dropped, fallen asleep and never fully recovered.
what I mean by this is that certain types of glue and paper used in books can be an attractive proposition for various insects: silverfish, beetles, cockroaches among them.
In most UK conditions this should not be a concern, but try to avoid food and crumbs in your books and book storage rooms to minimize attraction to these creatures.
if you have a little more space and you like some quirky ideas and book storage hacks you can use around your home
Remember, if you run out of space, you can save space by stocking books in the store first; think of it as an extension of your home (with added benefits like free pickup and free Wi-Fi at all locations). get a quick price or contact your local center to find out how we can help alleviate your storage problems.
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