A Guide to Storage Unit Uses for Items From the 90s
A storage unit is an ideal place to store all of your things from over the years. If you grew up in the 90s, then you may have a large collection of items that may have gained value over the years. While many of the items may hold sentimental value, you need to decide if the products are worth the extra storage space.
As you plan for a storage unit rental, follow this guide for more details on some of the more popular 90s trends and what to look for as you rummage through box after box of your belongings.
Beanie Babies
One of the biggest trends in the 1990s was the emergence of Beanie Babies. The stuffed animal collection from the Ty company is still selling new releases, but the value has not increased like people anticipated. As it turns out, the best time to sell Beanie Babies was back during their height in popularity.
If you have a big collection of Beanie Babies, then a storage unit is an ideal place to keep them. The darkness of a storage unit will protect the original colors and prevent fading. Ideally, you want to place Beanie Babies in individual bags to protect the fabric and scent of the collectible.
Even for pieces more than 20 years old, the simplicity of Beanie Babies makes them ideal for gifting to family and friends. Save the collectibles and then pass them down to family members as the years go by.
Battery-Operated Toys
Beanie Babies weren’t the only popular toy from the 90s. People collected many popular toys, including a lot of battery-operated toys like TalkBoys, Furby Dolls, and Tickle Me Elmo toys. When you store the toys in a storage unit, you should remove the batteries from the toys. If batteries are left inside the devices, they could corrode and leak.
Permanent damage may occur with the toy. Along with battery removal, consider a climate-controlled storage unit. Low humidity will prevent parts from rusting or wearing down. When you do pull the toys out of storage, you can add batteries and the toys should operate like new again.
In some cases, older electronics may be worth money in the future as people seek out the collectibles. If you have the original packaging, then the collectible could be worth even more.
VHS Tapes
VHS tapes may have won the war against Beta tapes for home video dominance, but they were quickly set aside for modern options like DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital movies. While rumors circulated about some special-edition VHS tapes being worth a lot of money, many of the tapes are not even worth as much as the original retail price.
If you still own a VHS tape collection, you may want to save some of your favorite movies. The classic tapes and cases make an ideal display piece. You can easily store a large collection of VHS tapes in a box and leave them in a storage unit. If kept in climate-controlled conditions, the tapes will also function in a VCR if you ever seek a nostalgic movie night.
Star Wars Action Figures
Following the craze of Star Wars action figure collecting in the 1970s, Kenner released dozens of new figures in the 1990s known as the Power of the Force 2 line. Collectors in the 1990s gobbled them, attempting to cash in on the same value the originals received. Unfortunately, those figures are not worth a whole lot.
There was such a mass production of the Power of the Force line that the figures are available in abundance. However, if you own any of the figures, they may still be worth holding onto and keeping in their original packaging. When you store figures in a storage unit, look for plastic figure protection cases so the original cardboard and plastic remain covered.
If left out, the card backing could dent and the plastic could loosen.
Sports Trading Cards
One hobby that continues to go strong is sports trading cards. If you have any major sports cards from the 90s, then you could have some gems worth hundreds of dollars. A storage unit will keep the cards in mint condition as you seek out a safe space to keep the cards. Some of the more valuable trading cards include rookie cards, autograph cards, and rare cards.
Along with main sports like football, basketball, and baseball, trading cards for other sports like hockey and pro-wrestling may also sell for a lot. If you feel like you have a card that could be worth money, then you should have the card professionally graded by the PSA. Known as the Professional Sports Authenticator, the company will examine and officially grade your card.
Mint card grades rely on perfect condition and little wear. If you keep your cards in a storage unit, you will prevent light damage and have plenty of space to safely store large groups of cards.
For more information on storage units, contact us at North Star Mini Storage. We have plenty of space to store all of your 90s memorabilia and a whole lot more.
