Love towards music and the ability to play a certain instrument is beautiful on so many levels. And when you own an instrument, the most important thing for you is that it does not get damaged. Preparing instruments for storage is, therefore, one of the things you should focus on and do it right. There are many different uses for storage, but you should be even extra careful when storing instruments. This is why we have prepared a lot of tips and tricks on how to keep your instrument safe in the storage facility. It does not matter whether you will be storing your item for a month or for six months, proper preparation is always necessary.
Why is preparing instruments for storage so important?
Preparing your instruments for storage means that you are preserving them from all kinds of conditions such as mold, corrosion or cracked joints. The discoloration of the surface is also quite common on instruments if not prepared properly. Additionally, your instruments should be kept at a climate-controlled environment, and for that, we can recommend excellent self -storage Boston.
Start the preparation by cleaning the instruments
Before entering the storage unit, your instruments should be completely cleaned and dried. This should be done with a cleaning cloth. But, not every cleaning cloth can be used. There are special cleaning clothes just for cleaning the instruments. Every musical instruments store has them, so they are quite easy to obtain. Furthermore, they should be vacuumed so that no dust is present at the moment of storing. If you have a wooden instrument or a resin one, condition it with paste wax, because it will preserve it in the long run. Be careful not to use an oil-based polish or alcohol as a conditioner for your wooden instruments. These are the two necessary steps when preparing instruments for storage.
Store them in their original case
If possible, find their original cases and use them for storage. If you will be storing your instruments for longer than six months than we recommend storing them in hard cases instead of the soft ones. Using hard cases, you will prevent the mold or humidity to enter the instruments. Since pianos do not have a case, cover them with a piece of sheet. This will prevent dust and perhaps smaller insects of landing on it. Due to the size of the piano, it is always best to have it moved by professional piano movers so as to avoid any damage.
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Choose a good spot for your instruments in the storage facility
When in the storage unit, it is very important how and where you will place your instruments. The instruments should be kept off the ground at any given moment. Each type of instrument is unique and requires different conditions. For example, for guitars, it is important that they are hanging from the wall or the ceiling. On the contrary, the pianos should be placed on their side to avoid any damage. Although it seems that pianos have to be on the floor due to their size, you can place them on pallets.
Why is it important to keep the pianos off the floor? It is because the temperature fluctuations are most common on the floor, which can cause damage. Also, the instruments should never be placed near the door of the storage units for the same reason. Pick a location in the middle of the unit or towards the end of it when preparing instruments for storage.
Pro-tips
Next, to cleaning them, covering them and placing them in the right spot, there are a few more things you should focus on.
- Loosen the strings – For your string instruments, it is vital that you loosen the strings on them. This prevents the strings from snapping, thus saving your instrument. Additionally, the neck can warp, which is not good in the long run.
- Put tissue paper between the pads – This is for your woodwind instruments, such as flute or saxophone. In this way, the pads will not become sticky over time. When you are ready to play the instruments again, you will be able to without much effort.
- Separate the instrument into sections – If possible, separate the instrument into sections in order to prevent any pressure on the joints of it. The longer you store your instrument, the bigger are the chances for this.
- Locate your instrument in a way that nothing can fall on it, nor can the instrument fall on something. In this way, it will simply break, so take extra precaution measures for this.
Insurance is also very important
One of the steps in preparing instruments for storage is also insurance. Although the sentimental value can never be compensated, better not risk losing both the instrument as well as the money. Here, it is vital that you take photos of your instruments from each side. This is the way to speed up insurance claims, as photos make for excellent proof. Bear in mind that there are risks when hiring cheap movers, in which case you will need a large insurance package.
We hope that your instruments will not be stored for a long time and that you will be playing them soon. However, in the meanwhile, preparing instruments for storage is crucial for preserving them. Follow our tips and tricks and you will have no issues when you decide to play again. Good luck!
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