Tips for DVD Collectors: How to Protect and Maintain Your Precious Collection

No matter what its manufacturers and supporters say, DVDs will not last forever.  That is, unless you keep them in a bomb-proof casing so they will see the light of the next few thousand years.  But why wait that long if you can do the right steps today to ensure that your precious DVD collection is well maintained and protected long enough for your grandchildren to enjoy?  After all, as a DVD collector, you already understand their value as sources of information and entertainment.  Here are some practical tips you can keep in mind:

A clean DVD is a long-lasting DVD
The very first thing you need to remember to protect your precious collection is that you need to keep them clean so as to prolong their lifespan and preserve their quality.  Don’t leave DVDs out for long periods of time; you will be exposing them to dirt, dust and oil.  Handle them with clean hands and if you do get a few discs dirty, use an especially formulated cleaner to maintain its quality.

Handle with care
Do not stack DVDs, touch their surfaces or try to bend, twist them or expose them to a heat source.  They are made from breakable materials that can shatter or expand from high temperatures.

Protect and contain
DVDs are not impervious to external threats such as dust, dirt, grime and abrasives.  And do not make the mistake of thinking that by keeping them inside your optical drive they will be nice and cozy.  If you use your computer regularly with the DVD inside the drive, you will be exposing it to heat from the device.

Never store a DVD inside your optical disk drive.  There are a few options you can consider.  First, keep them in the original sleeve or box they came in with.  The sleeve or box is especially designed to protect the surface of the DVD.  The container will also prevent the disc from slipping out, so it never gets accidentally stepped on, cracked or scratched.

If you prefer, purchase especially designed sleeves or boxes for your collection.  A good choice would be plastic casings, book-type and trays.  For the ultimate protection, try metal sleeves.  Metal sleeves are tough and durable and can withstand heat and pressure, ensuring that your DVDs are well protected even in the most chaotic environment.

Another advantage to keeping DVDs in their sleeves is that it keeps them organized so they are easy to arrange on a shelf.  So next time you have friends over for a night of horror classics from George Romero and Dario Argento, you’ll know exactly where to find those special discs.

Can your DVD collection make it to the next millenium?  Barring all types of disasters natural or manmade, they probably can.  Learn the best ways every DVD collector should know on how to protect their precious collection. One is through the help of DVD metal sleeves from Brackley Industries.

Environment Friendly DVD Cases: The Greening of Music and Film

Although many people obtain their favorite music and movies electronically through online music stores and channels, DVDs are still enjoying brisk sales.  But in case you’re worried about what happens to old DVD cases or are concerned about what the manufacturing process does to the environment, you’ll be glad to know that now, environment friendly DVD cases are available.  They’re as good as the older versions but are considered a better alternative because they do not require additional resources to produce.  In short, they are a sound solution to the problem of waste that results from the manufacture and use of most consumer products.

dvd case

The problem with DVDs
Older DVD cases are made from synthetic materials, primarily plastics.  Unfortunately, majority of plastics are derived from fossil fuels including coal, natural gas and oil.  Environmentalists frown on this because of the demands it imposes on the earth’s resources.  Although one DVD casing may not amount to a lot of plastic, imagine having millions of them produced each year.  Sadly, many of these get discarded and thrown in the trash, ending up in landfills and potentially causing pollution and buildup.  As is common with most fuel-based materials, plastic DVD cases also do not break down.

Environment friendly DVD cases, on the other hand, use renewable and biodegradable materials.  Lately, major music and film producers have supported the use of recycled DVD cases for their products.  Sleeves are usually made from cardboard, a paper-based material that is sturdy enough to hold its shape and protect the disc.  Cardboard is environment friendly because it can be recycled and it will decompose in a landfill.  The advantage to this type of packaging is obvious — not only does it provide a green solution to the problem of waste and pollution, it also helps minimize bulk in terms of storage.

Environment friendly DVD cases also reduce the total amount of shipment.  Because they’re made from materials such as paper and are considerably lighter, they can also result to reduced costs, which is a boon to end users.

How environment friendly is your DVD case?
It’s good to note that this type of packaging varies in its component.  Some cases are made of only 20% recycled material while others are 100% recycled.  When checking out environment friendly products such as DVD cases, you might want to consider the percentage of recycled material used to keep informed.

Environment friendly DVD cases are relatively new, however, which explains why it is still limited to a few manufacturers and distributors.  However, the demand for such products is expected to rise, thanks to its increasing popularity with manufacturers and consumers alike.  As the drive toward a greener alternative to the most common consumer products intensifies, there might even come a time when every DVD case you’ll ever buy will be 100% recycled.

image credits to taiyofj

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