In this video I walk you through the practical stuff that actually keeps records playable: how to store vinyl so it doesn’t warp, fade, or get chewed up by pressure. The big enemies are direct sunlight and heat sources—too much heat will warp your LPs into a wavy, unplayable mess, and sunlight will slowly burn out the artwork (and let’s be honest, the artwork is a huge part of why we love vinyl). So step one is placement: keep your collection away from windows and anything that throws heat. Then I get into the right way to store records physically. Always store LPs vertically—never stack them in piles—because records aren’t made to support weight. If you’ve only got a handful, a simple box is fine, but once you’ve got a real collection you need proper shelving with dividers to support the rows. I also explain sizing (you want enough clearance to grab a record without cramming it), how not to overfill or underfill shelves, and how tight packing causes sleeve ring wear. Finally, I cover dust control with outer sleeves, the correct sleeve opening orientation (outer opening up, inner opening up), and I give the same advice for 7-inch records—ideally in a closed box since their sleeves are usually thinner and wear faster.