Storing videogames in your loft

[Duddyroar]

I've just moved house and space is in short supply, so much of my gaming stuff is having to go into the loft until it's needed.

I put some music CDs up there as soon as I moved in and dug them out last night, only to find they were covered in condensation, due to the loft being freezing cold and the house being warm. After leaving them in a warm room for a bit they were ok, but I'm worried about putting games and electrical stuff up there now in case this causes any damage.

I know this is a pretty anal question but I'm about to place my beloved Japanese Megadrive collection up there, and the last thing I want is the games to be ruined and the cases and instructions to get all damp.

Does anyone have any tips about storing items in lofts?

[MattyD]

I wouldn't do it TBH. I stored a bunch of music CDs in my parent's loft and had the same condensation problem, and it made a lot of them unplayable. There were these little patches where the condensation had eaten away the silver bit of the disc itself and you could see right through them if you held them up to the light. I dread to think what corrosion problems that would cause with carts and hardware.

I've thought about using sealed boxes like those stackable plastic boxes you can buy in B & Q or Wilkinsons, but AFAIK the moitsure trapped inside the boxes themselves would only condense anyway, right?

[Escape-To-88]

Hhmmm a few months back I bought up quite a few Japanese games up from a collector and most were immaculate, however he found that when he went to his loft to fetch 'Steel Empire', 'Rainbow Islands' and a few more the condensation had actually stuck half the sleeve to the box and half to the plastic film, hence tearing the cover in two halves.
I'm not sure how he stored them but I have an arcade monitor, some old MVS games and a few boxes of DVDs in storage and there all bubble wrapped to death in a freezing garage and have been for the last year or so and I've had no probs. I think just pack the hell out of 'em mate! Bubble wrap and box them tight! That said I still won't store my vinyl in the garage or the loft for fear of condensation. - Good Luck

[Duddyroar]

Thanks for the comments guys. Basically I've got no option, the games will have to go up there, I have no room to store them anywhere else, so I'm going to have to come up with some way of storing them so they're not affected by condensation.

[Number45]

I have a shedload of PC games stored in my loft in those plastic boxes you get from DIY shops and I've not noticed any condensation at all on them, if that helps. It's cold up there too, so not sure why specifically some do/don't have the problem. :/

[VR46]

Damien, guess if they have to go up there, best to put them in a cardboard box and seal it up, have a gut feeling using bubble wrap/any plastic will just add to the possible problem tbh.

Escape-To-88 - loft is quite different to the garage, due to heat rising blah blah blah

[Duddyroar]

I was just going to stick them up there in cardboard boxes - the thing is, I intend to get them down quite often in order to play them, so I don't really want to have to seal them up every time I put them back - but at the same time I don't want to destroy a collection worth hundreds of pounds! I assume moving them in and out of the loft is going to create more problems as that's when the condensation appears?

Damn these tiny bloody houses!

[Geoff D]

Mine are in the loft - I've put them in cardboard boxes, which are then placed in bigger cardboard boxes. It's not ideal, but if you change the very outside box from time to time it helps.

[Duddyroar]

That's not a bad idea...I have access to plenty of boxes...

Is there any procedure I should follow when removing items from the loft? Like leaving them at room temperature for a short time before opening them up? Or is that just silly?

[Number45]

Is there any way you can test the process/equipment you're going to use? Say, put something similar in boxes (Or perhaps some games you're not worried about losing) and put them in the loft for a while to see how/if they react?

[Pavey]

Under our bed we have these clear giant duvet protection case thingys.

Like a big clear 'cell' with a zip up it,about a metre squared. Might be worth getting some of these to go around your cardboard boxes?

Think they are from Argos. I'll have a hunt.....


These

Or these

[Duddyroar]

Well the SNES is up there currently - I've just got a load of unboxed games which didn't cost much so I'm not as bothered about - I will test those tonight and see what happens.

Nick - those sound interesting - if you could get me some info I would be very grateful!

Christ, this is worrying me far more than it should.

[andrewfee]

I quite like the idea of putting them into a bigger container, preferably one that can be sealed. (perhaps those big plastic tubs can be?)

I know that with Digital SLRs and other expensive camera equipment, it's recommended that when you've been using it outside in a cold environment that you put it into a sealed bag before taking it inside, let it warm up to room temperature, and then open it to avoid condensation damaging it.

Edit: Those "Vacu Bags" seem like a good idea as they'll have to be sealed.

[Duddyroar]

Cheers Nick, those look like a good idea, these ones would probably be best as the boxes I have a quite big. And they're a steal at £3.99 - might pick some up today!

One question - wouldn't these bags trap moisture in?

EDIT: Just reserved a set of those jumbo bags, will pick up today at dinner!

[andrewfee]

One question - wouldn't these bags trap moisture in?

Cold air has little moisture in it, so it should be ok if you put it on while you're up in the loft with them.

I should point out that I've not done this, but it seems like your best bet. (I can't think of anything else)