Whether you are an avid collector or you’ve recently discovered a passion for playing these iconic musical instruments, you’ll surely want to keep your guitars in pristine playing condition, which is why leaning how to store them properly is absolutely essential. Unfortunately, guitars far too often tend to suffer from permanent damage due to carelessness, with the most common issues occurring at the fret, their most sensitive component. However, if you follow a couple of ground rules when you decide to put your guitars in a storage unit, you can easily keep them safe. Take a look at the list we compiled below and make sure you keep them playing like new for years to come.
1. Keep Them Clean
When you play your guitars, oil from your fingers inevitably builds up on the strings. Over time, this can make both the strings and the metal components rust and corrode — irreversible damage that you surely want to avoid. This is why you should always make sure to clean them thoroughly. Once you remove the strings, to make the cleaning process easier, use fine steel wool or a damp cloth to gently remove the dirt, and then re-hydrate by applying lemon oil to prevent any drying-out. If you want to purchase a guitar cleaning kit that has everything you need, there are plenty of options to choose from on the market.
2. Loosen the Strings
The strings of a guitar put a lot of tension on the neck when they are strung properly, but over an extended period of time, this can cause some severe damage to your beloved instrument. For short-term storage, you don’t need to worry about this, but if you want to pack your guitar away for a longer period of time, the smartest choice is to slightly loosen the tension of the strings by rotating the pegs one or two turns.
3. Choose the Right Cases
As with the advice concerning the strings, the choice of cases to put your guitars in depends on how long you plan to store them. If you opt for long-term storage, in other words several months or years, the most suitable option is to get hard-shell cases. Of all the storage methods, these offer the best support. Not only are they pretty heavy and protect guitars against any potential physical damage, but they also do a great job at protecting them against climate fluctuations that might affect them over time.
On the other hand, if you need easy access to your instruments, guitar stands or wall mounts are good options. However, these obviously offer little to no protection, since your guitars would be completely exposed. At the very least, they offer basic support, which is much better than piling them on top of each other or leaning them against a wall, like many people do.
4. Pay Attention to Temperature and Humidity
One of the most important aspects concerning the storing of musical instruments is the ambient climate. Most experts agree that the ideal humidity level for guitars is a consistent 40%-50%, and anytime conditions are outside this range, the risk of damage is significantly increased. The best way to monitor and control humidity is to use a hygrometer – a simple device that measures the moisture in the air – and some people invest in a humidification system to regulate humidity.
Regarding temperature, the average in the area should be somewhere between 65-75 °F, preferably in a climate-controlled storage unit where your precious instruments can be kept safe and sound.
5. Play Them Once in a While
At the end of the day, guitars are made to be played. Just like the lead guitarist of Queen, Brian May, famously states, ‘The guitar has a kind of grit and excitement possessed by nothing else.’
Even if you’re planning to store your prized collection for a longer period of time, be certain to take the instruments out and put them to use once in a while. Not only does this fulfill their life’s purpose, which is to be thoroughly enjoyed by players and listeners alike, but in this way you make sure you catch any small, potential maintenance problems before they become big issues.
All in all, the more expensive your guitars, the better your storage conditions should be. As long as you follow the main steps above and you don’t forget to check on your beloved instruments whenever you get the chance, there should be no problems storing them safely and correctly.
Living Room Storage Ideas: 28 Ways to Reclaim Your Hosting Space
If a living room is where most of a household’s living happens, good storage should be the top priority for setting up or revamping the place. After all, think of how easier it would be to have people over when tidying up the place is just a matter of putting things in their right place (in a time when fewer and fewer people are entertaining friends at home(opens in new tab)). The trick is making room for all those wayward clothes, blankets, chargers and other small things that end up on (or, inexplicably, in) the sofa. Here are 28 living room storage ideas to get you started and make tidying up a quick affair.
25 Mudroom Storage Ideas (And Mistakes to Avoid)
When you come home with muddy boots, an armful of bags and a coat you can’t wait to take off, it’s nice to have somewhere to put it all. With a mudroom, you can leave the outdoor mess at the door instead of carrying it through the house. Traditionally, you’d set aside a separate room, but you can just as easily use a hallway, an entryway closet, a laundry-room corner or a stretch of wall near the entrance.
Is Your Home Office Worth the Rent? What Coworking and Self Storage Could Save You
Every square foot of your apartment comes with a price tag, and a home office claims more of them than most renters expect. It starts with a desk. Then come the second monitor, the printer, the filing cabinet and the overflow boxes. Before long, the corner you set aside for work has turned into a small room you are paying for every month.
Best U.S. Cities to Live Uncluttered: Plano, TX, Offers the Most Room to Breathe
Clutter is in our homes as much as in our heads. Both are shaped by where we live.
America’s Top Snowbird Destinations for 2026–2027: Florida Leads in Numbers, Texas Wins on Value
For Americans living in colder states, the approach of winter is reason enough to start looking south. Cold weather carries costs that go beyond the heating bill and shoveling snow. Seasonal affective disorder(opens in new tab) is far more prevalent in northern states, so a temporary move south isn’t simply an escape from the cold, but a chance to spend the hardest stretch of winter outdoors and in the sun.
How Much Does Halloween Really Cost in 2026? Plan Wisely to Avoid the Scare of Hidden Costs
Americans’ love for Halloween is almost frightening — this year alone, we are on our way to spending $13.5 billion, according to data from the National Retail Federation(opens in new tab). That breaks down to about $115 Halloween costs per person, a whopping 49% more than 10 years ago.
How to Store LEGOs: All the Fun, None of the Clutter
How to store LEGOs largely comes down to how your household uses them. If the bricks are part of everyday play, you need a setup that keeps them within easy reach and makes cleanup quick (for your feet’s sake, at least). Toy storage(opens in new tab) such as simple bins, playmats or containers that children can put away themselves may be enough. Larger or more serious collections usually need more organization, such as labelled drawers for loose pieces, trays for unfinished builds, shelves for completed models and separate storage for retired sets.
Cardboard Costume Guide: Tips and Ideas for a DIY Halloween
Whether for kids or adults, cardboard costume ideas often make the biggest splash once materialized, and that’s for a simple reason: doing a lot with a little is a universally impressive feat (especially in this economy). If you don’t have enough boxes you could temporarily repurpose, don’t worry! There are many places where you can find free moving boxes(opens in new tab), from stores and supermarkets to online groups and recycling drop-off spots. On the run? Try your luck at a self storage(opens in new tab) facility that sells moving supplies, often for cheap. This way, you can choose moving boxes of different shapes and sizes(opens in new tab), so you can make your costumes as complex as you want.
How to Celebrate Halloween: 9 Non-Spooky Ways To Enjoy It
As soon as October starts, it’s the official Halloween month. And while for many people it means it’s open season to get the scare of a lifetime, others, especially families with small children, might prefer to celebrate in a tamer way that’s both kid- and adult-friendly. While you’re likely to find more events where the spook factor is high, here’s how to celebrate Halloween in a not-so-scary way: