Potential Hazards To Your Vintage Collection And How To Avoid Them

While the vintage toy business is a lucrative and fun niche for those who want to juggle the hobby of collecting and earning money simultaneously, it's like any other flashy gigs — they are all easier said than done.

One possible let-down in storing a rare retro figure is the challenge of keeping them in mint condition, or at least the same state when you bought them.

As fragile as a dead branch, these golden finds are prone to discoloration, disfiguration, molds, and the rarest disease imaginable. As an aspiring collector, it is your job to safeguard these treasures like they are a princess.

However, identifying your enemies is the first step to keeping these delicate discoveries in good shape. You can't conduct any safety measures with high hopes that it'll work for every problem. There is a specific panacea for every toxin, and the key to discovering this remedy is to acknowledge that you have a well full of venom dust to deal with.

Fortunately, we can name some of these elements that could be deadly to your premium and vintage collection pieces. Our team also added a few suggestions on avoiding the unsightly event of losing your precious gems to these nuisances.

 

Untrained Pets And Kids

Most frequent accidents around unfortunate vinyl, plush, and ceramic figures always involve a mouthy puppy or a curious cat. Imagine keeping a rare piece of sealed Totoro stuffed toy from Studio Ghibli, only to find its chewed remains on the floor upon returning home from a supermarket run.

While it won't reverse the time if you play the blame game, it would help to acknowledge that it happened because of your neglect. Had you dedicated an entire locked space for these highly-valued collectibles, it wouldn't end up in your pet's mouth.

That's right. The most sensible solution to this scenario of untrained pets and, sometimes, meddling kids destroying your antiques, is reserving a whole room for your sensitive collection pieces and keeping it locked whenever you're away.

 

Heat

Unbeknownst to many, temperature plays a mild role in the lifespan of your toys, especially painted vinyl statues. Exposing them to the sun would cause their colors to wear away.

This scenario is the same with vinyl discs, particularly the old ones. When your music shelf sits near the window where the sun reaches them easily, you might end up with melted records. While turntable merchandise remains strong in the market, no re-release could match the worth of your age-old stuff.

Choose a dry spot in your room that doesn't come in contact with direct sunlight. Use protective sleeves on your vinyl records and display your old-school anime figures behind glass doors.

 

Molds

Avoiding direct sunlight might introduce you to another headache, which make it look like collecting vintage is a trip between Scylla and Charybdis. The hideous and cringy onset of molds is due to excessive moisture, damp surfaces, humidifiers, and other factors. Of all the hazards in this article, dealing with molds may be the worst as they grow back if you fail to eliminate every tiny bit of this microorganism.

Molds can penetrate antique wood. Once they do, it's as good as saying goodbye to your heirloom furniture. Moreover, they may spread into different areas of your home, so eradicating their existence is essential, especially if you're stocking up with vintage items and have housemates susceptible to diseases one can get from molds.

You may use bleach or distilled vinegar to wipe and disinfect mold-infested spots. Regular cleaning of these prone areas should help keep their growth at bay. Another way to prevent their onset is using a dehumidifier if you live in regions with excessive moisture.

Clumsy People

Do not underestimate the destructive power of walking accidents. These entities suck the life out of almost anything more than a Dementor would. Don't rest easy just because they have complete senses. They don't have a grip, and they always trip!

We can go back to keeping your stock room locked. However, being the proud collector that you are, you might want to make your friends' mouths water over your towering collections, your custom-made cabinet, or your fancy wine altar. Showing off leads to accidents, but nothing could go wrong if you've made enough preparations.

First, keep the onlookers' hands off your collections. You could use a locked glass cabinet or employ a decorative guardrail if there's ample space. The distance you set should give it enough protection from your Deathbringer friends and probably you -- if you are as blundering as they are. Next, be mindful of your spectators' actions, and don't let them wander near your memorabilia without your company.

 

Earthquakes

They rarely happen, but when they do, it may be over for some displayed ceramics and even vinyl figurines. We saw a Tiktok video of anime statues falling from their shelves, and it was heartbreaking. While this act of nature seems inevitable, you could plan and execute some protection measures to cushion the impacts of high-intensity earthquakes.

First, consider keeping the fragile ones in a box or a vault. With enough cushion and being stored away from falling debris, your breakables have a better chance of surviving. If they are supposed to be displayed, ensure they are safely glued from where they stand, and there are invisible strings as an assurance if the bond fails to do its job. When it comes to adhesives, your best choice is a museum putty, so consider getting one.

Earthquake-proof cabinets and shelves do exist, but they are not something you can easily purchase marketplaces. Professionals construct this furniture, and installing them may be very challenging for DIY people. Still, with special latches and other mechanisms, anyone can try securing their vintage items in these wisely-built woodcrafts.

 

Takeaway

Collecting premium and vintage items is like swimming in a huge pot of gold until the above hazards wake you up to face the harsh reality that they can quickly perish with sloppy accidents, neglect, and improper care. Putting on sufficient effort and some investments should protect your antique discoveries and keep them in a sellable condition until their values take you to the moon.