Need to know if i can store photos in plastic containers? PLEASE HELP!!?

Question

I have ALOT of photos that i need to store in plastic containers,like the "Show Offs" from Sterilite. They stack well and i have limited room. Our spider problem is bad in our bedroom closet and thats where i have to store them.We keep treating for them,but they come back. My pics are precious to me and my family,as i'm sure yours are as well. I would so appreciate any suggestions you all may have to keep them safe :) I have some pics & negitives stored in tins and they are fine,but tins dont stack very well and they look bad. I hope someone can help me as we are kind of desperate now! I have so many photo albums filled with photos and dont have room for anymore,so thats not an option either.
Thanks to anyone who took time to read all this :)
I'm at my wits end!! PLEASE HELP!!!!
Sincerely,
Debbie

Answer 1

The plastic storage cases should be fine. If you're really worried, get photo albums and place the photos in them--THEN put them in a storage box :). Or just put pictures into separate photoboxes, and then place them in a bigger storage tote :)

Answer 2

Plastic is actually best for photo storage. Cardboard boxes have acid in the paper than can react with the photos. If you can find archival quality photo storage boxes that is the optimum storage but plastic really beats out cardboard any day. I have alot of my photos stored in plastic containers and they are just fine.



Also, for the pics I have in albums I bought some archival quality negative pages and I keep the negative in the album with the pics. That way if I want to copy a pic the photos and negatives are together. I use 3-ring binder type albums so adding the negative pages was no biggie. You could slip the negative pages loose into an 8x11 photo album that isn't 3-ring.

Answer 3

You need photo boxes that say on the label that they are "photo safe". Some plastics contain gasses that are harmful to photos just like cardboard boxes have acid and lignin. All of these things will cause your photos to yellow and other bad things. Look for photo safe boxes anywhere they sell scrapbooking supplies, such as Hobby Lobby.

Answer 4

Best Way To Store Photographs