Storage??

[Bonsai_Tree_Ent]

Mylar is your friend. Totally non reactive, no off gassing, protects from humidity, acid and oils, UV. From an archival standpoint it buries poly bags. You can get baggies in all different sizes and for the small price difference over poly bags it is well worth the extra.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-MYLITES-2-SILVER-GOLDEN-AGE-SIZE-MYLAR-COMIC-BAGS-STORAGE-SLEEVES-E-GERBER-/351624373144?hash=item51de722398:g:8YoAAMXQDrJR4E3r

 

[Usetheforceluke]

Cheers I'll check that out!! No I've never heard of it either! When I opened each bag it smelt of mold, cold, damp, gassy figures and skanky old air so could have been the lack of air. Never met or spoke to anyone else that's had that issue. So odd! Must have been a mixture of the type of bag and the fact I air sealed them :/

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

That's a real shame to hear about your childhood toys. Bloody horrible loss. I'd put money on the bags being the culprit. As a rule, the softer and the more plastic smelling the bags, the worse they are. That stuff destroys metal, let alone other plastics. Most ziplock bags available on the market are positively lethal to plastic toys. First warning signs are a slightly tacky surface. That can be cleaned off without any noticeable long term effects, but leave it longer and you're in trouble.

I've just ordered a load of acid free plastic bags from Iain (itfciain on here). And as Matt says, Mylar is pretty much beyond reproach. If you do get Mylar your notice how "hard" and crinkly, almost like a crisp packet, it is. That's the lack of nasty plasticisers in there.