Heirlooms can be almost anything that a member of a family considers valuable, and often, the items are treasured because they are associated with significant life events or celebrations. This can include baby blessing clothing, wedding jewelry, Grandma’s china, or inherited artwork. No matter what you treasure, when the item is important to your family, you want to protect it. Here are some of the methods you can use.

1. Clothing

Cloth items can be sealed by professional companies, including dry cleaners. If you store the fabric item yourself, use acid-free tissue paper to place between layers of material. Store in a temperate area that is free from mothballs, plastic, and metal. Place the item in a protective box that keeps the fabric dust free.

2. Glass

Valuable glass items require special, double wrapping to prevent damage to fragile edges. Items should then be stored in protective boxes or wooden crates. If possible, make sure glass heirlooms are separated from one another by padding or packaging. If an item does become damaged, call your glass repair Houston TX shop to restore the glass to its original beauty.

3. Paper

Documents and photos should be kept in a flat area with acid-free papers between layers. Most types of papers can be stored in a humidity-controlled area, but newspaper is too acidic to safely keep in most cases. There are companies that can treat newspaper clippings to preserve them, but the chemical soaking can sometimes damage the paper.

4. Wood

A heavy furniture wax, liberally applied, can create a seal against moisture on most wooden heirloom pieces. Different woods require different wax types, so check with an antique professional to make sure you apply the correct type. Once the wax has been buffed into the wood, cover the item and store the piece away from heat, sunlight, and exterior walls.

When dealing with heirlooms, being aware of how to handle each item is essential. Still, the valuable family treasure deserves the time and attention necessary to store it properly so that future generations can have access to it.