Whether you’re a serious LEGO seller on eBay or a casual Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL) collector, choosing a proper inventory storage area plays a vital role in keeping your LEGO pieces safe, clean and undamaged. Here are four factors to consider when you choose where to store your LEGO inventory.
1. Find a place out of sunlight
Repeated exposure to UV rays from the sun can discolor LEGO pieces and as well as other items you may be selling. Your inventory storage area should be out of sunny areas.
2. Choose a cool and dry area
Choose a cool dry location for your LEGO inventory. Many LEGO bricks and pieces are made out ABS plastic, a durable material that can withstand normal high and low temperatures. That said, bricks can become warped if exposed to extremely high temperatures. Also, humid conditions combined with freezing and thawing may damage bricks. Finally, rubber pieces like LEGO tires and Technic bands and belts can become sticky after exposure to high temperatures.
3. Select and isolated area away from smoke and pets
Keep your inventory as far away from smoke and pets as possible. Smoke and pet hair (especially from dogs and cats) can aggravate allergies of some your buyers. Smoke can also leave a lingering smell on pieces that even non-allergic buyers may detect and dislike. A separate area for your LEGO inventory can also make your pieces easier to find.
4. Box or bag all pieces in air-tight containers
Although dust doesn’t harm LEGO pieces, cleaning dusty pieces is a huge pain in the brick. Fortunately, dusty pieces is an easily preventable nuisance. Just store ALL of your LEGO pieces in air-tight bags (i.e. Ziplock baggies) or air-tight boxes (Sterilite or Rubbermaid boxes).
A few thoughts about using basements as LEGO inventory storage areas
Basements are large, cool areas with little to no sunlight exposure. Before you rush into choosing your basement as your LEGO inventory storage area, ask yourself a few important questions. Is my basement subject to flooding or water leakage? Does my basement attract pests (e.g. ants, spiders, roaches, mice, etc.)? If you answer ‘yes’ to either or both of those questions you’ll want to store your LEGO inventory elsewhere in the house.
Related BrickingTips.com articles:
What’s the damage?: How to Identify and Prevent LEGO Piece Deterioration
A Few Tips for LEGO Sellers Who Smoke or Have Pets
Got loose dust on your LEGO models or pieces? Try a dust blower!