7 Things You Should Never Do With Your Old Cassette Tapes

That shoebox of cassette tapes in your closet might hold your high school mixtapes, a recording of your kids’ first words or a message from someone you miss. They are small, they are fragile, and they are not made to sit around in just any spot.

The Library of Congress, which cares for some of the nation’s most precious recordings, publishes plain advice for ordinary households on its page Care, Handling, and Storage of Audio Visual Materials. Based on that guidance, here are seven things to avoid.

None of this requires special equipment, only a few habits. The list below goes from the most common mistakes to the ones people never think about.

Never Stash Your Tapes In The Attic Or The Basement

The Library of Congress says home collections should be kept cool, at room temperature or below, with relative humidity around 35 to 40 percent. It specifically advises avoiding attics and basements.

Those spots swing between hot and damp through the year, which is exactly the opposite of what tape wants. A closet in the main part of the house is a far better bet.

Relative humidity is simply the amount of moisture in the air, and the library’s home range of 35 to 40 percent is on the dry side of comfortable. A small humidity gauge from a hardware store can tell you how your storage spot measures up.

Never Freeze Them Or Chill Them Below 46 Degrees

You might think colder is always safer, but the Library of Congress says not to store magnetic tape below 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

That rules out the freezer and an unheated garage in winter. Cool is good; frozen is not.

The library’s guidance for large institutions is stricter. Collections of permanent value are kept at 46 to 50 degrees and 30 to 40 percent humidity, which shows how serious it is about the 46 degree floor.

Never Pull A Cool Tape Out And Pop It Straight Into The Player

If your tapes have been kept in cool storage, the Library of Congress advises letting them reach room temperature before you play them.

It is a small bit of patience that gives the tape time to settle. Give it a little while before you press play.

The same idea applies to a box that has been in a cold car or a chilly garage. Bring it inside and let it sit.

Never Leave Them In The Sun Or Under Bright Lights

The Library of Congress says to minimize exposure to all light, and to avoid direct or intense light, including sunlight.

That means no tapes on the dashboard, no stacks on a sunny windowsill and no cassette racks beside a bright lamp. A closed box on a shelf is the easy fix.

Keep the box closed and the shelf away from the window, and you have followed the library’s advice.

Never Set Them Beside Speakers, Motors Or A Television

The Library of Congress advises minimizing exposure to strong magnetic fields and keeping tape away from motors, transformers, loudspeakers, vacuum cleaners and television sets. It notes that demagnetization is unlikely in most situations.

Even so, a shelf next to the stereo speakers is a poor place for a tape collection. Move them a few feet away and you have removed the question.

Never Lay Them Flat In A Messy Pile

The Library of Congress says cassettes should be stored upright, standing on their long edge, and kept on sturdy shelving because a cassette’s weight concentrates at the center.

It also advises storing played tapes without rewinding them, and rewinding just before playback. That is the opposite of the old habit of rewinding after every listen.

The library also advises using storage boxes made of acid- and lignin-free paper, so a sturdy, plain box beats a stack of loose cases.

Never Touch The Tape Or Try To Clean It Yourself

The Library of Congress says to hold a cassette by its outer shell only, and not to touch the spools or the playing surface. It also asks that you wash and dry your hands first and keep food and drink away.

As for cleaning, the library says cleaning magnetic tape is delicate and should be done only by a preservation specialist. If a favorite tape is dirty or damaged, talk to a professional rather than reaching for a household cleaner.

What To Do With A Box Of Tapes Today

Pick a cool, dry spot in the main part of the house, away from vents and radiators. The Library of Congress also advises keeping tape away from vibration and sources of leaks, and using boxes made of acid- and lignin-free paper.

Avoid containers that hold a static charge. Then label the box, set it upright on a sturdy shelf, and enjoy the music.

The library also says to keep tape in a clean environment, away from radiators and vents. A little dust-free planning now means your mixtapes are still there for the next family get-together.

The advice here comes from the Library of Congress preservation page named above. It is written for everyday collectors as well as libraries, which is why it works for a shoebox on a closet shelf.

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