What are the best conditions for storing my CDs?
Store discs in regular-sized jewel cases in a vertical position when they are not being used. It is ideal to store CDs in low light and cool, dry conditions that do not fluctuate widely. A good range for relative humidity is 20 to 50% and for temperature, less than 23°C. If every element (materials, recording, formats, etc.) is of good quality and stored within the proper ranges, then they are likely to last up to 100 years. However, if a disc is full of flaws including poorer materials or if it is stored in hotter and more humid conditions than advised above, failures may appear within five years. Thus, in less than optimal conditions, the best way to conserve your data is to transfer (or “migrate”) your files every five years to another medium such as a computer hard drive or a CD-R.
