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Polymer clay is perfect for arts and crafts projects because it is easy to work with, easy to cure, and also able to keep for long periods of time. The general rule of thumb is that polymer clay can last at least one year, although it will last a lot longer more often than not. If you have any polymer clay left over from an arts and crafts project, you can store it in a self storage facility for later. While polymer clay can potentially last a long time, you have to watch out for excess exposure to excessive heat and ultraviolet light, as these two elements can easily fire the clay. This will cause the clay to become useless. When storing polymer clay in storage units, here are 3 storage tips to follow.

Section Off Your Storage Facility Using Plastic Boxes

If you don't have a lot of storage space available, you may be tempted to dump all of your clay into the same box together; however, this can lead to detrimental results. It's important to always store cured and uncured clay separately and away from one another. This is because plasticizers from the uncured clay may end up leaching out into the environment and back into the cured clay. This can cause the structural integrity and composure of the affected cured clay to weaken, which can cause the clay to break.

The solution to this problem is to section off your storage facility into different units using plastic boxes. All of the cured and uncured polymer clay should be stored in separate boxes to prevent cross contamination. Sectioning off your storage facility using plastic boxes will also help organize everything, so you can easily find differently colored or aged polymer clay in the future.

Wrap the Clay to Prevent Color Transfer and Dust Accumulation

The best thing about polymer clay is that you really don't have to worry about it. It can last for years even if it is sitting unwrapped on the counter. Although polymer clay can last for decades in storage units if the environmental conditions are right, it is still best to make the extra effort to wrap each piece of clay with a sheet of plastic wrap.

If you have several different colors of clay, wrapping the different pieces of polymer clay with plastic wrap will prevent color transfers between the pieces. In addition, the plastic wrap will also act as a barrier and prevent dust from accumulating on the surface. Wrapping the clay is also a good idea in keeping the storage facility clean. You don't want any of the colors on the clay to transfer onto the floors or walls of the facility. 

Rent A Different Storage Unit to Keep Clay Away from Edibles

Although polymer clay technically is safe and won't cause any severe health conditions if ingested, it is still best to keep it away from any supplies or tools that will come into contact with food. This includes knife sets, cheese graters, pots, pans, cutting boards, containers and other supplies. If possible, rent a different storage unit to keep kitchen appliances and supplies or any edibles that you may want to store. 

Conclusion

Let your creativity run wild by working with polymer clay. Working with your hands can help you not only free your mind, but also explore many different artistic concepts and ideas. You'll easily have a good time – just make sure to store the polymer clay at an appropriate place in your storage unit. 

For a professional storage unit, contact a company such as AA All American Airborne Self-Storage.