Storage for your home archive

Storing your personal items can be done effectively at home if you follow some basic steps.

Items should be kept in cool, dry, dark conditions. The optimum storage conditions for paper based items are 20°C at 50% relative humidity.

Paper based items should be housed in archival quality storage containers. These can be purchased from specialist archival suppliers, but suitable less expensive alternatives can also be used.

Below are some suggestions for a range of storage options:

Inexpensive

More expensive

Professional
zip lock sandwich bags archival quality photocopy paper for inserts and interleaving Acid-free and photo-safe folders and wallets
oven bags plastic “display books” Acid-free and photo-safe storage boxes in cardboard or polypropylene
“copy safe” document sleeves polypropylene expanding document file (may have “PP” and recycling number 5 stamped on it) Acid-free and photo-safe albums in cardboard or polypropylene suitable for documents, photographs and negatives and slides
expanding document file polypropylene ring binder (may have “PP” and recycling number 5 stamped on it) Polyester (“Mylar” or “Melinex”) document sleeves
ring binder with a cardboard cover sturdy plastic crate with a lid  
acid-free pocket style photo album    
sturdy cardboard box with a lid