MojoLists

When you have a few DVD or Blu-Ray discs, keeping them safe is easy. It’s when you have 50, 100, 250 or more DVD and Blu-Ray discs that you have to start getting serious about storage and care of your collection.  This article will focus on where to put your selection to ensure the discs and cases stay good as new.

The traditional solution to DVD and Blu-Ray storage is to use shelves, large shelves, and this is the route I prefer. I have a need to look at the collection, pull out the case and make a viewing decision. Shelf storage keeps discs and cases in good condition and makes looking over your collection fast and easy. Standard bookshelves or dedicated DVD shelves are pretty much the same and interchangeable.

Shelf storage comes in a variety of sizes to fit most situations, the only problem is when you have so many discs, filling so many shelves that you have nowhere else to go. It is possible, as I am finding out now, to run out of shelf space and worse, space for more shelves. Those with an extra room can place their collection there but most of us don’t have an extra room or even an extra wall to spare. For most collectors however, the basic shelf solution is the way to go.

Storage binders are the solution for the seriously space deprived and it works in a pinch. Most people are familiar with these for storing CD collections but they work for DVD and Blu-Ray just as well. There is a serious downside to using DVD binders however. Small dust particles or even dirt get into the sleeves and scratch the delicate surface of the discs. CD’s are capable of playing perfectly well with minor scratches but DVD and Blu-Ray discs can become unplayable much easier because of a thinner layer of protective covering. Even if great care is taken, you can find your collection suffering.

Another consideration of the binder solution is that you have to either store the cases or toss them out which makes trading or selling discs much more difficult or impossible. It also makes picking a movie from your collection a chore as many discs have no clear identity and for those who have difficulty reading small print, well, you will suffer.

DiscSox is a nice solution that is a combination of the shelf and binder solutions. You cut the artwork out of the original case, slide it and the movie into a special sock to greatly reduce your collections space requirements. DiscSox claims a 13 inch stack of cases will be reduced to 3 inches and keep your discs safe and secure.

While I like the idea of saving a lot of space and still being able to see the movies cover, I can’t imagine cutting up the cases. The cases are not important to many people so you will have to weigh the DiscSox option based on your needs.

One creative option is using drawers, in a dresser, cabinet or even kitchen. This solution may work well for you if you prefer a shelf free environment but can’t bring yourself to destroy your collections covers. This option allows you to keep your movies out of harms way while maintaining a more traditional décor.

Now that you have your solution picked out, remember to dust shelves and cases often. Dust can quickly become adhered to the plastic covers of DVD and Blu-Ray cases making them less than perfect in appearance. I learned the hard way and grimace every time I pull out one of those movies.

Collecting DVD and Blu-Ray Movies    Organize a DVD and Blu-Ray Collection