Rhythm Preserved

Ensuring Your Drums Beat On Through Proper Storage

Let’s get your drums set for a break without missing a beat. Our guide covers cleaning, storing upright, and climate control, ensuring your drums are primed for performance the moment you’re ready to hit the stage again.
Table of Contents
Beat the Elements

Mastering Drum Storage for Unmatched Longevity

Drums, the heartbeat of music across cultures and genres, carry a unique blend of rhythmic power and delicate craftsmanship. Properly preparing drums for storage is not just about maintaining their aesthetic appeal but preserving their sound quality and structural integrity. Improper storage can lead to skin warping, shell damage, and corrosion of hardware—compromising the very soul of your instrument.
This guide is part of our Musical Instrument Storage series, and is designed to drum up the importance of meticulous storage preparation, ensuring that your drums remain in peak condition, ready to bring rhythm to life at a moment’s notice. Embark on this journey of preservation, and let your drums continue to tell their stories, beat by beat.
Rhythmic Resilience

A Step-by-Step Beat to Drum Storage

  • Clean Each Drum
    Use a soft, dry cloth to dust off the shells. For hardware components, a slightly damp cloth can remove grime without causing rust.
  • Detension the Heads
    Loosen the tension rods slightly to relieve pressure on the drumheads, preventing stretching or warping during storage.
  • Climate Control
    Store your drums in a climate-controlled setting to protect against humidity and temperature fluctuations. A stable environment maintains shell integrity and head elasticity.
  • Protective Covers
    If possible, place drums in padded bags or cases to shield against dust and physical damage. Ensure that the cases are clean and dry.
  • Store Upright
    Position drums upright, as laying them on their sides can put uneven pressure on the heads and shells. Space them out to prevent any unnecessary pressure points.
  • Cymbal Care
    Wrap cymbals in soft, lint-free cloths and store them vertically in a cymbal bag to prevent warping and scratches.
  • Regular Inspections
    Even in storage, periodic checks are crucial to address any signs of damage or environmental impact, ensuring your drums remain in ready-to-play condition.
Elevate Your Beat

Drum Storage That Strikes the Perfect Note of Savings

Storing your drums correctly is a testament to your dedication to their craft, performance, and longevity. It’s about ensuring that each strike, each beat, resonates with the same intensity and clarity as the day your drums first echoed in your space. Perfect Storage is in tune with the needs of drummers and percussionists, offering specialized storage units designed to keep your drums in harmony with their surroundings. Embrace our commitment to your rhythm with a 10% discount on our storage services. Secure your drums’ legacy and continue to make music that moves, shakes, and inspires. Request a quote today, and let’s keep the rhythm alive together.
Frequently Asked Questions

Drums Storage FAQ

When it comes to storing drums, people often have several common questions to ensure they are doing it correctly and safely. Here are popular FAQs about storing drums in New York City:

To store drums properly, whether for a short or long period, there are some common steps to follow. First, clean the drum shells and hardware with a soft, dry cloth to remove any dust, dirt, or oils. For the drumheads, use a slightly damp cloth and then dry them thoroughly. Disassemble the drum kit, removing the heads, hoops, and hardware to prevent tension and damage. Store the drums in high-quality cases to protect them, and use small in-case humidifiers to keep the humidity level stable, which is essential in NYC’s changing climate.

For short-term storage, make sure the drums are kept in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. Our climate-controlled facility is perfect for this. Disassemble the drums, clean each part, and store them in cases with small humidifiers to maintain proper humidity levels.

For long-term storage, additional steps are necessary. Clean the drums more thoroughly, ensuring all parts are free from dust and moisture. Remove the drumheads and store them separately to avoid tension damage. Store each drum and its components in high-quality hard cases. Use multiple in-case humidifiers or humidity control packs to maintain a stable environment inside the cases, preventing the wood from warping and the hardware from corroding. If possible, check on the drums periodically to address any issues, like changes in humidity or physical damage. Our climate-controlled facility ensures consistent temperature and humidity levels, ideal for long-term storage.

By following these steps, your drums will stay in excellent condition, whether stored for weeks, months and even years.

To prepare your drums for storage, first clean each drum thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth to remove fingerprints, dust, and any residue. Use a mild cleaner suitable for the drum finish if necessary, but avoid abrasive or harsh chemicals. It’s important to check and tighten any loose hardware gently to ensure nothing comes loose during storage. If possible, remove and separately store cymbals and hardware to prevent pressure or damage to the drum shells. Protecting each drum with a breathable cover or placing them in padded drum bags provides additional protection from dust and scratches.
Detuning drumheads slightly before long-term storage is advisable to relieve some of the tension on the drum shell and the head itself. However, completely loosening them is not necessary; just a slight detuning can help. This precaution helps prevent the drumhead from becoming overstretched or warped, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. It’s a balance between reducing tension and maintaining the shape of the drumhead and shell.
The ideal environmental conditions for storing drums are a stable temperature of about 60-75°F (15-24°C) and a relative humidity of 45-55%. Extreme temperatures and high humidity can cause wooden drum shells to warp and metal components to corrode, while low humidity can dry out and crack the drumheads. If these conditions cannot be naturally maintained, using a climate-controlled storage space is recommended. Additionally, avoid placing drums near vents, windows, or direct sunlight to protect them from environmental damage.
Drums can be stored either vertically or laid flat, depending on the available space and the specific type of drum. However, it’s crucial to ensure that storing them vertically does not put undue pressure on any side of the drum, which could lead to warping or damage over time. If storing drums vertically, make sure they are securely positioned and will not fall over. For bass drums or larger floor toms, laying flat might be more stable and distribute weight evenly, preventing stress on the hardware and shell.
To protect drums from dust and pests, store them in clean, dry conditions and ideally inside padded drum bags or cases. These covers not only prevent dust accumulation but also offer a barrier against pests. Placing silica gel packets inside the drum cases can help control moisture and deter pests. Regularly inspect the storage area for signs of pests and keep the area clean. For added protection, consider placing mothballs or natural repellents like cedar blocks near the storage area, but not inside the drum cases, to avoid any potential damage from the chemicals.
We hope these FAQs have been helpful in addressing your key questions about preparing drums for storage. We also understand that you may have questions or concerns not covered here. If so, please ask us. Our dedicated team is always available to provide you with further information and personalized assistance. Contact us and we will make every effort to respond promptly and efficiently. Your satisfaction and understanding are our top priorities.
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