Care for a VHS Tape

VHS Tapes always wear out a little bit every time when we play them. Here's how to care for them!

Tape degradation can be broken down into several categories: time, storage, handling and use.

Time: Over time the components of a video tape degrade. Most importantly the magnetic particles that contain the video data become instable and their physical properties change.

Storage: The environment in which you store video can accelerate the degradation process. The magnetic particles respond to environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, extreme temperature, humidity, pollution, and sunlight.

Handling: Poor handling can expadite degradation. Avoid dropping the tape or handling the tape. It is easy to transfer dust, dirt and, grease onto tapes.

Use: The quality of your tape deck is important. A misaligned deck can stretch/tear tape and pack tape poorly. A dirty deck can turn small debris into large scratches. Each time a tape is played friction occurs assisting in the degradation process.

Steps

 * 1)  Keep your tape in its box when not being used.
 * 2)  Store the tape in a cool dark place
 * 3)  Be careful when handling a tape.  Don't drop it or touch the film part of the tape

Warnings

 * Don't play your tape nonstop.
 * Don't ever touch the tape inside.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Clean an Old Game Cartridge
 * How to Care for a 8 Track Tape
 * How to Store Video Tapes and Cassettes
 * How to Convert a VHS to DVD