If you have an extensive collection of vintage dolls, you may have run out of storage space at home. If this is the case, hiring a storage unit can be a great solution. However, because vintage dolls can be very fragile, it is important that you take extra care when placing them in storage. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about storing vintage dolls.
Clean the dolls
Before you place the dolls in storage, you should wipe them down with a soft cloth. Doing so will remove any dust, grease or other contaminants which are on the surface of the dolls. If vintage dolls are placed into long-term storage while dirty, they may become discoloured or damaged.
Place the dolls in wooden or cardboard boxes.
While it might seem to make sense, you should never store your vintage dolls in a plastic bag or box. Plastic will not allow the toys to breathe and will instead trap any moisture, which can lead to mould growing on the fabric of each doll. Also, plastic bags and boxes may emit gases which can cause damage to any vinyl dolls in your collection. You should place each vintage doll in a sturdy wooden or cardboard box. Doing so will protect them from damage while also allowing air to circulate.
Add padding
Once the dolls are in the boxes, you should surround them with newspaper, foam balls or bubble wrap. Doing so will help to cushion them if they are dropped during transportation to the storage unit.
Use climate control
Ideally, you should hire a storage space which has climate control. This will allow you to carefully set the temperature and humidity levels in the storage space. Vintage dolls are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. If you opt for a storage unit which does not have climate control, the drop in temperature during the winter months could cause the china surface of the dolls to crack or shatter. High humidity increases the risk of mould and mildew.
Install shelves
You shouldn't place the boxes of dolls directly onto the floor of the storage unit. If the storage unit is flooded, anything which is directly in contact with the floor will suffer water damage. To avoid this, you should install shelving on the walls of the unit. You can then stack the boxes containing the dolls on the shelves.
If you would like further advice, you should contact a storage specialist today.
Hello, my name is Mikey and this is my moving and storage blog. I would like to welcome you all to what I hope will grow into a fantastic blog. I must say, I didn't know a thing about this topic until last summer when I had to pack up my stuff and move it across Australia from Perth to Syndey. I had been offered a fantastic new job so I had to relocate. I had a few friends in Sydney and I thought the move could be a real adventure. I hired a moving company and contacted a storage place so I could keep the stuff I didn't have room for safe. I learnt so much from working with the professionals who worked for these companies, I want to share it here.