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I personally treat my much-reduced-from-a-decade-ago collection like seasonal decorations (from 450 to about 100). They're never out for more than 3 months at a time at the most, and they get gently cleaned and styled if necessary before they get put back into their tote (standing upright because I am soooo tired of wobbly or dented ponies, particularly in the Glory pose). Then I put them in the closet; depending on the closet I may also throw a blanket over it like my closet now which has a window, until next year.It helps me appreciate them more because I get excited to pull them out of storage every few months.I do keep an Applejack and a Butterscotch on display all the time, though. But they're already so trashed and are just sentimental.
I have my collection on display in our dining room, since it can't all fit in my pink room right now. I use Billy bookcases from Ikea with the optional glass doors (I knew I wouldn't want to dust so the extra $$ was worth it to me haha).For sunlight I have attached UV blocking film to the glass on the doors, also I have a UV blocking curtain over the sliding glass doors immediately to the right (you can see the glare from them) I keep the curtain half way closed.I don't think temperature is such a problem for vinyl, having it at consistent temperature is best though. The humidity can do more damage. So I purchased a humidity monitor on Amazon. My house usually doesn't go outside safe levels, but having a dehumidifier nearby is a smart idea. Especially in a basement.Here's my setupSpoilervisitors can't see pics , please register or loginYou can see the UV blocking film darkens the glass, but the collection can still be seen. Especially up close it makes little difference. I got the second to the lowest strength for the film, but you can get it with very strong protection if there's a lot of light in the room.
So yeah. Enemies of PVC are UV, Heat, Humidity and pollutants. The first purchases I would recommend is an indoor hygrometer for the room the collection is kept, and some light blocking window coverings. I personally also have UV film applied to the window itself then light blocking coverings, but I do understand those who live in rental homes not being able to alter the premises that way- the UV film does not come off easily.Now, for your query about light. Do remember, the way light will move around the room from windows changes with season, and time of day. We know direct exposure will cause issues, I err on the safe side of just blocking outside light entirely.For room conditions, the safe handling paper I link to below stated this- "Keep the temperature at or below 20oC and relative humidity 30-50%, suitable conditions for most plastics". Using a indoor hygrometer, you will see where you stand, and you'll know if you need other tools such as an AC if heat is an issue, or a dehumidifier if there is an excess amount of moisture in the air.oh, and move collections somewhere safe if work is being done to the room, i.e use of strong finishes/painting walls, near or where your collection is being kept."safe handling of plastics in a museum environment"https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/11186/mci_WAAC2010-Tsang.pdf"Care of plastics"http://cool.conservation-us.org/waac/wn/wn24/wn24-1/wn24-102.htmlAlso linked, particularly for this reference:"Exposure of PVC to light (especially ultraviolet radiation) and heat will cause a degradation reaction, called dehydrochlorination, which produces hydrochloric acid and causes the PVC to change color from yellow to brown to black. Manufacturers control this by adding light and heat stabilizers. Unfortunately these stabilizers are consumed as they do their job, until at some time the stabilizers are exhausted, and additional exposure suddenly results in deterioration. Thus a PVC object that has been surviving nicely under lights for several years may suddenly begin rapid deterioration."Hope this is helpful.
I just covered my two windows with near floor-to-ceiling cabinets with sliding doors. These are PAX Wardrobe cabinets from Ikea. I actually open the doors on rotation so that the ponies can "air out", but they also do a great job keeping dust away.Spoilervisitors can't see pics , please register or loginvisitors can't see pics , please register or loginI keep these desiccant / dehumidifying eggs scattered throughout to help with any humidity. Spoilervisitors can't see pics , please register or loginI turn on the ceiling fan on low to circulate the warm heat at the top of the room (I have very tall ceilings in that room)I also have a small air purifier that I leave running on low full-time right beside the air vent. That way any air coming in through the vent gets purified.