4 Ways to Protect Musical Instruments in Storage
Putting a valuable item in storage triggers anxiety in many people. When the item is a treasured musical instrument, it can be difficult to let go of worries over its safety. Follow these four tips to make sure your musical instrument stays safe during its time in a storage unit.
1. Select a Storage Unit With Climate Control
Many musical instruments are vulnerable to dramatic changes in temperature. Wood can warp as a result of repeated warming and cooling. Strings can snap or lose their tension, causing the instrument to fall out of tune. To protect your instrument, choose a storage unit that offers climate control so you can be sure that your instrument will not be subject to extreme variations in temperature.
2. Clean Musical Instruments Before Storage
Before you place any musical instrument into storage, take the time to clean it as thoroughly as possible. Every time you play a musical instrument, oils from your skin are left on its surface. Over time, these natural oils can stain the instrument or spoil any decorative finish that has been applied to its surface. Be sure to wipe down the instrument before you put it into storage.
In addition to skin oils, wind and brass instruments can also become contaminated with saliva. To prevent bacterial growth in the mouthpiece, wash or clean it thoroughly before you place it in storage.
3. Put the Musical Instrument in a Case
Most musicians have cases to protect their musical instruments during transport and keep them out of the way while they are not being played. When you put an instrument into storage, you should always place it in its case.
Soft cases keep dust, pests, and moisture away from your musical instrument. However, hard cases are a better option. Hard cases provide protection against environmental hazards in addition to preventing damage if your instrument falls over or if another object falls onto it.
4. Wrap or Cover Larger Instruments
Some instruments, like pianos, are too large to fit into cases. However, it is still important to protect these instruments while they are in storage. Simply placing a tarpaulin over a piano is a good way to protect it from dust and damp. You can provide an extra level of protection by wrapping the piano legs with bubble wrap, which will protect them from being chipped while you are moving the piano into or out of the storage unit.
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