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🤗 Keep Your Playing Cards in Tip-Top Shape: The Ultimate Care Guide
- Authors
- Name
- FH5VE Playing Cards
Image by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash
Playing cards hold memories and provide hours of entertainment. Properly caring for your cards helps preserve their beauty and prolong their life. This comprehensive guide offers tips for storage, handling, cleaning, shuffling, and more so your decks stay in excellent condition.
Table of Contents
Storing Cards
Keep cards in a cool, dry spot inside your home away from sunlight, moisture, heat, and pests. The ideal storage temperature is around 68°F. Consider these storage options:
Cardboard boxes or metal tins - Store unopened card decks in their original packaging or durable containers. This prevents dust buildup.
Drawers or shelves - Set cards flat, not upright. Make sure the storage location is free of dampness.
Zippered pouches - Slip open decks into resealable plastic bags or card pouches to contain pieces. Squeeze out excess air.
Display cases - For collectible decks, use enclosed plastic display cases or framed wall mounts with UV glass. Keep out of direct sunlight.
Climate control - For large collections, store cards in an air conditioned room or use desiccant packs to control humidity.
Handling Cards
Handle playing cards with care to avoid dirt, bends, and damage:
Wash hands before use to prevent oil and dirt transfer. Dry thoroughly.
Hold cards gently by the short edges, avoiding the sides. Do not bend or apply pressure.
Do not eat or drink when handling cards. Keep food and beverages away from your play area.
Use a soft surface like a felt tablecloth to play cards. Hard surfaces can scratch.
When picking up cards, lift gently or slide into a stack. Never scrape cards on the table to gather them.
Keep pets away from cards. Claws, teeth, and fur can harm your deck.
Shuffling Techniques
These gentle shuffling methods help maintain your cards:
Overhand shuffling - Release cards carefully from one hand to the other to prevent flexing.
Riffle shuffling - Avoid excessive bending. Riffle softly at the card corners.
Stripping - Hold halves of the deck in each hand. Slide cards out to mix them together.
Pile shuffling - Drop cards neatly into stacks without scattering.
Machine shuffling - Devices gently mix cards without human bending. Great for games with frequent shuffling.
Cleaning Cards
Use these tips to safely clean your cards:
Brush away dust with a clean, dry toothbrush periodically. This prevents buildup.
Wipe gently with a microfiber cloth to remove oils and dirt. Do not use paper products that can scratch.
Rub stubborn spots very lightly with a white plastic eraser. Do not abrade the card surface.
Dab grease stains sparingly with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. Do not soak the card.
For stuck-on gunk, lay the card face down and gently pry the edge up. This avoids abrasion to the card face.
Smooth out bends over time by gently manipulating the card in the opposite direction of the crease. Do not fold sharply.
Storing Special Decks
For rare, collectible decks:
Use protective sleeves or hard plastic cases to isolate the cards.
Keep the cards in a secure, climate-controlled location like a safety deposit box.
Limit handling of fragile antique decks to prevent wear.
Display out of direct light to prevent fading. Use UV protective display cases.
With proper care techniques, your playing cards can stay in excellent shape for many years of play.
Caring for your playing cards is simple when you follow this guide. Store decks in a cool, dry spot in their boxes or cases. Gently handle cards while playing and shuffling to avoid bends and dirt. Clean carefully using microfiber cloths and erasers. With just a little TLC, your cards will last through countless games and remain looking new. Looking to get started? Take a look at our store at FH5VE!