How To Care for Your Board Game Collection

Board games are a fantastic way to bring people together for fun, entertainment, and often, a little competition. They have a unique charm, whether you're playing a classic like Monopoly , a strategy game like Catan, or a modern board game designed to challenge your wit and creativity. With the growing popularity of board gaming, many enthusiasts take pride in collecting games of various types.

However, maintaining a board game collection requires more than just stacking them on a shelf. Proper care is essential to ensure that your games remain in excellent condition, retain their value, and provide years of enjoyment. This article delves into the best practices for preserving your board game collection, from proper storage to keeping game components in top shape.

Why Caring for Your Board Games Matters

The appeal of board games often lies in their tactile components---crisp cards, detailed game boards, colorful tokens, and the overall experience of handling the materials. The condition of these components can drastically affect the quality of your gaming experience. As with any valuable collection, caring for board games can ensure:

• Longevity: Games that are well taken care of can last for decades, even generations.
• Value Preservation: If you collect limited-edition games or rare titles, keeping them in mint condition will help preserve their market value.
• Experience Quality: Games with well-maintained pieces are far more enjoyable to play, providing a smoother and more immersive experience.
• Aesthetic Appeal: A neatly arranged and well-kept collection looks great on display and enhances the atmosphere in your game room or entertainment space.

The Importance of Proper Storage

One of the key aspects of maintaining your board game collection is ensuring that each game is stored properly. Improper storage can lead to bent cards, torn rule books, warped game boards, and even missing pieces. Here's a guide to the best storage practices:

2.1 Storing Games Upright

Just like books in a bookshelf, board games should be stored upright. The boxes are designed to stand on their sides, with the game board and pieces inside. Storing games horizontally or stacking them without consideration of size can lead to damage over time.

Tip: Store games like books on shelves, ensuring that they are standing upright with their spines facing outward. If a game is oversized, use a space divider to keep it in place and avoid crushing the box.

2.2 Protecting Game Boxes

The box is often the first thing people notice when looking at a board game, and it's the most vulnerable to wear and tear. Here's how to protect it:

• Use Box Protectors: For rare, collectible, or vintage games, consider using a box protector. These are plastic sleeves that fit around the game box, preventing scratches and wear on the cardboard.
• Avoid Stacking Too Many Games: When you stack games on top of each other, the weight can compress the boxes. This can lead to crushed corners, dented sides, or even broken boxes.
• Don't Overfill: Avoid overstuffing the boxes with additional components or pieces. When a game box is packed too tightly, it can warp or tear over time.

2.3 Controlling the Environment

The environment in which you store your board games plays a significant role in their preservation. Factors like temperature, humidity, and exposure to light can cause irreversible damage.

• Temperature: Extreme heat or cold can warp cardboard, dry out the materials, and affect the game's components. Keep your games in a temperature-controlled room, ideally between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C).
• Humidity: Excess moisture can cause cardboard to swell, warp, and even develop mold. Conversely, too little moisture can cause the materials to dry out and become brittle. Keep your collection in a dry room with consistent humidity levels.
• Light Exposure: Direct sunlight can fade the colors on game boards, cards, and boxes. Store your games away from direct sunlight, preferably in a dark or low-light area, to prevent fading and degradation.

Organizing Your Collection

A well-organized collection is not only easier to navigate but also helps to prevent unnecessary damage to your games. Proper organization can make accessing and playing your games much more enjoyable.

3.1 Categorizing Your Games

Categorizing your games by genre, complexity, or playtime is a great way to keep them organized. For example, you can arrange your games into the following categories:

• Strategy Games (e.g., Catan , Ticket to Ride)
• Party Games (e.g., Codenames , Charades)
• Cooperative Games (e.g., Pandemic , Forbidden Island)
• Solo Games (e.g., Friday , Onirim)
• Family Games (e.g., Scrabble , Clue)

This allows you to easily locate the game you're in the mood for and minimizes the risk of pieces getting lost in the wrong box.

3.2 Using Storage Bins and Shelving Units

For smaller games or those with many small components, using clear storage bins can help. These bins can be stacked and labeled, making it easy to find the game you need.

Consider the following options:

• Shelves with Adjustable Dividers: These allow you to create different sections for various sizes of game boxes.
• Plastic Bins: For games that contain lots of small components or cards, store the pieces in separate, clearly labeled bags or containers within the game box.
• Drawer Storage: If you have a dedicated game room or closet, drawers can help store games vertically and organize smaller accessories.

Caring for Game Components

Board games often come with small pieces like cards, tokens, dice, and miniatures. These are the heart of the game, and ensuring their preservation is crucial to a game's longevity.

4.1 Protecting Cards

Cards are prone to bending, warping, and getting dirty. Here's how to care for them:

• Card Sleeves : If you play games like Magic: The Gathering , Arkham Horror, or other card games, invest in protective sleeves. Card sleeves will prevent damage from dirt, moisture, and handling.
• Avoid Overhandling: When playing, avoid handling the cards excessively. If possible, play with clean hands and ensure your playing surface is smooth and free from debris.

4.2 Keeping Tokens and Pieces Safe

Small game pieces can easily get lost or damaged. Here's how to protect them:

• Component Bags: For games with lots of small components, use small zippered bags or plastic containers to organize them. Label each bag with the game's name and the specific pieces inside.
• Miniature Storage: If your games come with miniatures, store them in a foam insert or a container that prevents them from rubbing against each other. Consider using a dedicated miniatures case for added protection.
• Dice: Store dice in a dice bag or a small container to prevent them from rolling away or getting damaged.

4.3 Preserving Game Boards

Game boards are prone to wear due to folding, creasing, and general use. Follow these guidelines to maintain their condition:

• Flat Storage: Avoid folding your game boards unnecessarily. If you store them flat, they will last longer. If you must fold them, do so gently and try to keep the folds in place with a light protective cover.
• Board Protectors: Consider using a thin sheet of acrylic or a board protector to preserve the surface of the board.

Cleaning Your Games

Cleaning your board games is another essential aspect of maintaining their condition. Regular cleaning will help keep your games looking new and improve the playing experience.

5.1 Cleaning the Game Box

• Dusting: Lightly dust the outside of the box with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using harsh chemicals, which can damage the artwork and surface of the box.
• Sticky Residue: If your game box has adhesive residue (from price tags, for example), use a gentle adhesive remover or rubbing alcohol, but test it first on a small area.

5.2 Cleaning Cards and Tokens

• Cleaning Cards: If your cards are dirty, wipe them gently with a damp microfiber cloth. Avoid soaking them in water or using any cleaning solutions that could warp or damage them.
• Cleaning Game Pieces: Wipe your tokens and pieces with a dry cloth. For tougher dirt, a damp cloth can be used, but be sure to dry them off immediately.

5.3 Cleaning Game Boards

• General Cleaning: Use a soft cloth to gently wipe down the game board. Avoid harsh chemicals, especially if the board has a glossy finish. If the game board is particularly dirty, use a slightly damp cloth, then dry the board immediately.
• Paperboard Games: For paperboard game boards, avoid getting them too wet. If the board is stained or dirty, consider spot cleaning with a damp cloth and mild soap.

Handling Games with Care

In addition to storage and cleaning, how you handle your board games also matters. Handling with care can prevent damage and preserve your collection for longer.

6.1 Gentle Handling

• Avoid Rough Handling: Always handle pieces, cards, and game components gently. Avoid throwing or tossing the pieces, especially the fragile ones.
• Use a Soft Surface: When setting up a game, ensure the surface is clean and soft to prevent cards from getting scratched or game pieces from being damaged.

6.2 Game Setups

When setting up your games, take care to arrange the components neatly and carefully. This not only keeps things organized but also reduces the chances of damaging any piece during setup or teardown.

Conclusion

Caring for your board game collection is an investment in your gaming experience. By taking the time to store, clean, and organize your games properly, you can ensure that your collection lasts for years to come. Whether you're a casual player or a passionate collector, following these practices will help you protect the longevity of your games and maintain the enjoyment of future game nights.

Remember, board games are more than just entertainment---they're pieces of art and craftsmanship. Taking the time to preserve them reflects your respect for the hobby and ensures that they remain in great condition, ready to be enjoyed by you and future generations of gamers.

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