How to store your trading cards

As a card collector, protecting your cards is key. Whether you’re collecting for the nostalgia, the potential value, or just the love of the hobby, proper storage can make all the difference. Today, let’s walk through the steps to keep your collection in pristine condition and ensure your cards are stored safely with Gameshield’s toploaders, soft sleeves, and semi-rigid holders. We’ll also dive into how these products are ideal for submitting cards to grading services like PSA.

Why Proper Storage Matters for Your Cards

If you’ve been in the hobby long enough, you know that even slight damage or wear can impact a card’s value and condition significantly. Here are the main risks your cards face when stored improperly:

• Physical Damage: Corners get bent, edges fray, and surfaces scratch.
• Environmental Damage: Humidity, UV light, and even temperature shifts can cause colors to fade or card stock to warp.
• Chemical Damage: Using low-quality plastic holders with harmful chemicals can cause long-term damage to your cards.

Gameshield has created a line of storage products—toploaders, soft sleeves, and semi-rigid card holders—that are specifically designed to avoid these issues. Here’s how to use them safely.

Start with a High-Quality Soft Sleeve

The first step in protecting any card is placing it in a soft sleeve, sometimes referred to as a penny sleeve. While these sleeves may look simple, they’re actually the first line of defense. Here’s what you need to know:

Why Soft Sleeves Matter

Soft sleeves prevent surface scratches and other minor damage, keeping your card’s glossy finish and vibrant colors intact. Gameshield’s soft sleeves are designed to be acid-free and PVC-free, which is crucial. Low-quality sleeves, often made from harmful plastics, can contain chemicals that break down over time, leaching onto your card and causing irreversible damage.

How to Sleeve Your Card Correctly

To sleeve your card:

1. Hold your card by the edges to avoid fingerprints or smudges.
2. Carefully slide the card into the sleeve, letting gravity do the work. Try not to force it in, as this can damage the edges.
3. Optional: For extra protection, use exact fit sleeves. These are snug and provide a perfect fit without extra room for your card to shift around.

Now that your card is sleeved, it’s time to move on to the next layer of protection: a toploader.

Secure the Card in a Gameshield Toploader

Toploaders are thick plastic holders that offer solid protection against bending, pressure, and environmental exposure. They’re ideal for keeping your cards safe at home or while on the go.

Why Gameshield Toploaders Are Superior

Not all toploaders are created equal. Cheaper toploaders are often made from subpar PVC, which contains plasticizers or stearates—chemicals that can “migrate” over time, causing a sticky residue to form on your cards. This can damage your card’s surface and value. Gameshield toploaders are made from high-quality, stationary-grade PVC with no plasticizers or stearates. This ensures a completely safe storage solution that won’t harm your cards in the long run.

How to Insert a Card into a Toploader

1. First, make sure your card is in a soft sleeve.
2. Hold the toploader at an angle and carefully slide the sleeved card inside. Sometimes, gently tapping the toploader on a soft surface helps the card slide down.
3. Avoid pushing or bending the card, as this can cause corner dings.

Gameshield toploaders offer excellent rigidity and clarity, making them perfect for display, storage, or transport.

Using Gameshield Semi-Rigid Card Holders for Grading

If you’re considering sending your cards to a grading service like PSA, you’ll want to invest in semi-rigid card holders. These holders are often preferred by grading companies because they offer protection while being thin enough to ship and store easily.

Why Semi-Rigid Holders Are Perfect for Grading

Semi-rigid holders, like those offered by Gameshield, provide a middle ground between soft sleeves and toploaders. They’re sturdy enough to keep your card safe from bending but flexible enough to handle the rigors of shipping and handling.

Here’s why Gameshield semi-rigid holders are a great choice:

• Trusted by Grading Services: PSA and other grading companies recommend semi-rigid holders as they offer both protection and easy removal for grading.
• Sturdy but Flexible: Gameshield’s semi-rigid holders are firm but not as rigid as toploaders, allowing them to absorb minor impacts without cracking or breaking.

How to Use Semi-Rigid Holders for Grading Submissions

1. After sleeving your card, gently insert it into the semi-rigid holder.
2. Ensure it’s fully inside, with no edges or corners exposed.
3. Stack your cards carefully if you’re sending multiple cards for grading, securing them with rubber bands to avoid any shifting during transit.

Why Choose Gameshield?

Gameshield goes beyond basic protection, focusing on quality materials and industry standards to ensure your cards are safe. Here’s what sets Gameshield apart:

• High-Quality Materials: All Gameshield products are made with acid-free, PVC-free materials that won’t harm your cards.
• Professional Standards: Gameshield products meet the standards set by grading companies, making them ideal for collectors aiming for top grades.
• Durability and Design: From the snug fit of their soft sleeves to the solid structure of their toploaders, every product is crafted for durability and aesthetic appeal.

By following these steps, you’re well on your way to keeping your collection safe, valuable, and beautiful for years to come. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting, investing in the right storage solutions will pay off in the long run.