Proper DVD and CD storage is essential to ensure your collection lasts as long as possible. While DVDs and CDs last much longer than VHS tapes and don’t degrade with each use, there are still ways you can store your DVDs and CDs to keep them safe from scratches or other problems that prevent them from playing properly.
For starters, always ensure your CDs and DVDs are kept in their cases. If some of your CDs or DVDs are in plastic sleeves, they should be transfered over into jewel cases if possible. Thankfully, many stores sell empty jewel cases and DVD cases for this purpose. While zip-up CD and DVD wallets are convenient for transporting your discs from one location to another, but they shouldn’t be used for long-term storage because they can lead to scratching.
Keep your discs clean at all times in order to keep your discs playable. Fingerprints, dust and other grime can prevent the laser in the DVD player or CD player from reading the discs, which leads to skipping or playability errors. You don’t need any chemicals or special cleaners to clean your discs, just use a soft cloth like the ones that are available for cleaning eyeglasses. When you wipe your discs, only wipe from the centre of the DVD or CD to the outside, never around in circles.
Avoid using homemade labels on your CDs and DVDs. Either use a specially-designed marker or pen or have a professional company label your CDs for you when they duplicate or replicate your discs. Using home labeling kits or stickers on your CDs and DVDs can result in discs that are off balance and won’t play properly, or that have adhesive residue on them that can’t be removed.
Always store your CDs and DVDs on a shelf, neat and organized. Not only will this keep your CDs and DVDs organized and allow you to find what you need quickly, it will help prevent cracking, broken cases and the resulting scratched DVDs and CDs.
VHS tapes degrade over time and with every use, so it’s a wise investment to have your VHS tapes transferred over to DVD format to ensure the safety and preservation of your collection. Contact Azure Production today to find out more about our low-cost video transfer options as well as all of the different formats we can easily copy from VHS to DVD.