With the winter holidays approaching, video game storage may trickle into your thoughts, especially if you’re planning on upgrading your, or your child’s, current system to the latest console. Moving video games and consoles to self storage will add more usable space in your home, but requires some preparation.
Video Game Storage Tips
Getting your video games and consoles ready for long-term storage helps ensure they will be ready to play in the future. Whether you’re a collector or a parent needing more space at home, these video game storage tips will be beneficial in preserving both games and consoles.
- Thoroughly Clean Your Games and Consoles — Dust can build up over time on both games and consoles that are sitting in the living room or game room. Remove any dust that has accumulated. Look at the grills on the body of the console and the contacts of the cartridges and remove excess dust. A small vacuum cleaner can be used to do this task. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the game console and controllers.
- Remove Batteries and Disconnect Cables — If you have a battery-powered console, like a Nintendo Switch or an old Game Boy, remove the batteries before storing to avoid leaking and degrading issues. Gaming consoles like Playstation and XBOX, should have the cables disconnected before packing it away.
- Choose the Right Packaging — If you saved all of the original packaging for your XBOX or other gaming system, this works great for storage. If you don’t still have the original packaging, a bag designed for consoles works, a laptop bag will also work. Air-tight plastic storage with a handful of silica gel packets work great for long-term storage. Game cartridges should be kept in airtight containers to prevent the accumulation of dust and possible corrosion.
- Wrap Consoles, Cords and Controllers in Plastic — If you plan on storing your video games, consoles and accessories for a long period of time, wrapping them in plastic will help prevent dust and moisture from reaching them. Wrap up each cord individually and label with masking tape — this way you’ll know what connects to where and nothing gets lost. Wrap the console in plastic and then pack it away in a plastic pin with an airtight lid. Controllers can also be wrapped in plastic.
- Select the Right Type of Storage — If you will be storing your video games and consoles in a storage unit, it’s best to find a climate-controlled space. Climate-controlled storage units help keep the console at room temperature and will enable you to get plenty of play-time out of them over time, possibly extending the lifespan. Avoid keeping video games and consoles in a garage or outdoor shed, as extreme temperatures are the biggest enemy of electronics. Video game systems should be stored in a clean, dry area that doesn’t receive direct sunlight.
Your video games and consoles can last for many years with proper preservation techniques applied when preparing them for self storage. If you live in an area that experiences extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, consider a climate-controlled storage unit for video game storage. Climate-controlled video game storage helps prevent your games from cracking and from growing mold or mildew.
Store Your Video Games, Consoles and Controllers at SPS
Whether you’re planning to upgrade your video game console this holiday season or you’re moving and need extra space at home, Security Public Storage has options for video game and console storage. Your media can last for many years to come with proper storage. Visit our climate-controlled storage page to find a location that offers this type of storage near you.