How to Save Documents with Your Vacuum Sealer
- Tips and How To's
- 01/07/15
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You already know your vacuum sealer doesn't need to be limited to the kitchen, but have you considered the ways in which you can use this tool to keep your office organized?
Unlike other storage methods, vacuum sealing your documents can keep them protected from the elements, whether you're preserving business papers, your children's art projects or important personal mementos. By preserving your documents in an airtight environment, you can keep them from coming into contact with moisture, which can cause papers to yellow or fade.
Follow these simple steps next time you're vacuum sealing your documents to ensure that they retain their integrity while remaining safe from dust, dirt and grime.
Step 1: Use Cardboard or Sleeves Before Sealing
Start the vacuum sealing process by assessing the documents you hope to store. Will you be sealing a thick item - like an instruction manual - or are you preserving a single document? It's best to use inserts, like pieces of cardboard or thick cardstock, when preserving papers, as these items can help your document retain its original shape while sealing.
For comic books and documents with multiple pages, using a collectible sleeve is ideal. This acts as additional protection for your documents, as it can help prevent text from adhering to the inside of your vacuum sealer bag. If you don't plan to display the individual papers you're sealing, consider placing pieces of cardboard on both sides to further protect it from becoming misshapen during the process.
Step 2: Know Whether to Seal or Package
Depending on the document you're hoping to preserve, it may be better to package it with a bit of air as opposed to an airtight seal. Comic books, archived magazines and other multipage documents should not be vacuumed - this method could not only cause pages to stick together, but it may crush the outer edges of the documents. Instead, merely seal the bag, leaving a small amount of air in the bag. You'll want to use a vacuum sealer that allows you the ability to control the sealing, like the FoodSaver® 2-In-1 Vacuum Sealing Kit.
If your documents are encased in cardboard, the vacuum sealing process should not alter their shape.
Step 3: Store in a Cool, Dry Place
Your papers are now protected from factors that may have altered their appearance over time. If you're storing documents for the short term - such as for a move or to send in the mail - pack them together with flat items to ensure that the documents don't bend.
