We're big fans of physical media here at What Hi-Fi?, but there is one rather big downside to hoarding it, as we do – how to store it.
While we love the idea of keeping all our Blu-rays and DVDs on show, that would take up a huge amount of space, which many of us simply don't have. Hence, lots of people turn to more space-efficient storage methods.
While a CD wallet will save you acres of shelf space, it could possibly damage your discs. Here's what you need to know and how to keep the shiny discs looking pristine.
How CD wallets can damage your discs
The issue concerns the plastic sleeves into which you slide your DVDs and Blu-rays.
The very act of sliding your disc into one of these sleeves can cause fine scratches on the disc's surface, especially if the sleeve is tight. But that's not the only danger.
If these sleeves are made of a cheap plastic like PVC, they can melt in high temperatures, melding with your disc and damaging it irretrievably. These high temperatures are more likely if the disc wallet is left in a car in direct sun, but thanks to the increasing number of heatwaves we're experiencing, it could happen in the home as well.
But even if you're extremely careful with how you slide in your discs, and you keep your CD wallet somewhere nice and cool, it's still not completely free of risk. How you store the wallet could also damage your discs.
If you keep your CD wallet on its end, the weight of the discs will bear down on those at the bottom, which could, in time, cause those discs to warp. Not only will this warped disc fail to be read by your Blu-ray player, it could also damage your player's spinning mechanism. Which isn't ideal.
How to store your discs safely
So what can you do? Thankfully, there are some pretty simple steps you can take to future-proof your Blu-rays and DVDs.
The safest option is to keep them in their original packaging, but if you want to save space, invest in a disc wallet whose sleeves are made from a soft, forgiving material like polypropylene, polyethene, felt, microfibre or netting. This will help prevent your delicate discs from picking up scratches while they're being slid in or out of the sleeves.
To avoid heat extremes, keep the sleeve out of direct sunlight, and don't take it anywhere in your car during the hotter months, unless you have extremely effective air conditioning. And definitely don't leave your CD wallet – or your money wallet, for that matter – in your car.
While it might be more convenient to store your wallet lying down, keeping it standing up will reduce the risk of any of your discs warping.
Follow these rules, and your discs should continue to give you much enjoyment for years to come and with no monthly fee. Take that, Netflix!
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