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Gone are the days where only simple things are stored in self storage units. Nowadays, many items that people store needs special care and attention. For example, art paintings and photographs are extremely sensitive to light and moisture. UV can dry up the moisture in the art pieces, damaging the fibres and causing discolouration. When that happens, the painting is almost worth nothing. Another popular item that people love to store is musical instruments. It is extremely important to know how to store them and how to prepare to store them. Not only are they expensive, they are delicate and require lots of attention and care. The best and only way is to rent a self storage unit that offers climate control features. Such unit allows you to control the temperature as well as the moisture content in the air. Since most musical instruments are either made of wood or metal, the amount of moisture is thus extremely important. Moisture can cause damages to the wood fibres, warping of wood and corrosion of metal components. 1. Store instruments in their original cases covered with wax High levels of moisture can cause mildew and mould to form on the surface of your wooden musical instruments. For stringed instruments, remove or relax the strings while storing them to prevent them from breaking due to prolonged periods of inactivity. Place them inside the original case as it was built exactly to its shape and made for it. To better increase moisture prevention, you may wish to place them inside a plastic bag that is sealed. Cover the entire case with a layer of wax as wax is a natural repellent of moisture. 2. Oil metal instruments before storing them Musical instruments made of metals such as brass require cleaning and oiling prior to storage. The oil will help to keep the parts lubricated and smooth as well as prevent corrosion. Use a cloth made especially for metals, oil them generously but not until the extent of them dripping. If budget allows, you should use a brass wax to keep them nice and shiny before placing them inside their original case. Cases for brass instruments are made slightly larger due to brass expanding and contracting during temperature fluctuations. Thus, it is important to use only a case made for the specific model. 3. Gradual decrease in temperature This tip is especially important for instruments such as a piano. If you are storing a piano in self storage, make sure the temperature you set is not much different from its usual operating temperature. Drastic changes in temperature can cause the internal components to malfunction, permanently damaging your piano. Start with 1 degree decreases gradually until the piano acclimatises. No matter if you are storing a small or large musical instrument, climate control is the most important factor to consider. People say that the musical instrument chooses you and not otherwise. Make sure you store it in the best condition so that it can better serve you when you need it.
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