Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee and thousands of avid sports fans. If you’re one of them, you’ve probably amassed an impressive amount of sports memorabilia to remind you of the Vols’ greatest victories — like their historic win over Alabama. And while collecting certain items is somewhat second nature for sports aficionados like you, you might start running out of space to display them over time.
Types of Sports Memorabilia
Sports memorabilia comes in many shapes and sizes. Some of the most common items sports fans collect are:
- Jerseys
- Balls
- Helmets
- Tickets
- Hats
- Posters
Because they’re made from different materials, each of these types of objects has different care requirements. Some of them may even require protective cases to remain intact for longer and preserve their worth through the years.
The Main Hazards To Your Collectibles
Some items in your sports memorabilia collection may be pretty rare and potentially increase their value over time. Keeping them in pristine condition is critical if you’re planning on selling them at some point.
Some of the most common hazards to sports memorabilia are:
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Pests
- UV lighting
- Water
- Improper storage
How to Prepare Your Items for Storage
Before you decide how to store your sports memorabilia, you need to follow certain steps:
- Wash all previously worn items.
- Use the appropriate products to clean each type of material.
- Stuff all objects that need to retain a certain shape.
- Dust off and clean non-washable items.
- Identify which objects you shouldn’t display.
How to Store Sports Memorabilia
Whether it’s a signed football or an old jersey, there are proper ways to preserve your precious sports items for decades to come, including:
1. Frames
You can place your favorite jerseys, posters, cards, or flags in a frame and hang them around your house. However, while it may help keep your items dust free and prevent acidification, glass can only do so much against UV light. Keep this in mind when deciding where to hang your framed memorabilia, and make sure to keep it far from direct sunlight.
2. Display Cases
If you need to display 3D objects, cases and shadow boxes are the way to go. They’ll help you protect helmets, balls, and other tokens from the elements while still allowing you to show them off. However, much as it happens with frames, most display cases don’t provide UV light protection. You might still want to keep yours out of the sun and some types of indoor light to keep your sports memorabilia looking its absolute best.
3. Binders
You can buy penny sleeves in bulk to store your stack of sports cards and tickets. Alternatively, you can purchase binders that are specifically designed for trading cards. Either way, you’ll have an additional layer of protection for these valuable collectibles.
4. Boxes
Boxes are an excellent way to keep your sports gear organized and in one place. After all, you can only display so much memorabilia around your home. Just make sure to place all your items in there carefully to avoid cracking or breaking irreplaceable items.
Leave Sports Memorabilia Storage To the Pros
As a proud Tennessee Vol, you probably can’t get your hands on enough sports memorabilia to support your team. If you’re running out of places to keep it safe, you might need to find a premier storage solution. At Fox Moving & Storage of Knoxville, we can help you properly store all kinds of sports memorabilia. Contact us now, and let us safeguard your valuable sports collectibles.