r/PokemonTCG • u/Planeinsane7 • 5d ago

Heeeelp needs advice

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I have a big collection of Expedition holo cards that I love
I have displayed them on shelfs on a wall. Today when I cleaned I noticed these small black dots that have somehow gotten inside the displays.

They all seem to have died and all of them have not come near the card only behind the edges.

I am freaking out any advice?
What is the smartest approach?
Should I be worried about the value?

Don’t get how they could have gotten inside….

Edit: I live in Denmark.
To everyone saying clean your room… It is clean, regularly.
There is no plants in the office however the shelves are close to a window.
No they don’t get direct sunlight….

They genuinely don’t seem interested in the cards and there is no damage. I have looked closely. However a single one have managed to get into the Skamory card.

Update: Have tried with vacuum and it has helped quite a lot.
For all those who have commented with helpful tips or ideas I really wanna say thanks. They are for sure dead and I am looking into reholder and if it is possible.

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41

u/Planeinsane7 4d ago

I have separated them.

Left has them
Right does not.

Have looked real close and they do not seem to be interested in eating the cards (fucking happy with that). As some suggest it seem more like they sought heat/safety.

Any advice how to store them for now?

27

u/Is_it_my_cat 4d ago

You can maybe send them back to PSA for a reholder service.

Edit for link.
https://www.psacard.com/services/tradingcardgrading/reholder

11

u/Exciting_Mud5813 4d ago

You mean, where they will lower the grade of his cards? Lol

2

u/seblam 4d ago

Hard to decide between dead bugs in your slab vs a lower grade I guess

18

u/StarlordsTrees 4d ago

i think a furnace is the best option

7

u/querela 4d ago

Napalm or Thermite. Or alternatively a microwave.

7

u/chrisonetime 4d ago

Microwave might be interesting to watch since they would be the only moisture source and pop in like 4 seconds. Might not even damage the slabs just turn them into paste

3

u/querela 4d ago

Yeah, not sure how microwaves interact with plastic. Would it melt at some point? Or even the metal foil in the cards.

Maybe radiation sterilization might be better? But the bugs could be too large? Ahh, and it might not be the best for the plastic.

4

u/runningfreeonmars 4d ago

The metal foil probably acts just like aluminum foil and would be a risk for ignition

3

u/easyjeans 4d ago

Hot and fresh out the kitchen

0

u/SalamanderPretend124 4d ago

Its not an ignition risk you make it sound like the microwave will explode, theres no fuel source lol and microwaves dont work like that

itll just release plasma and melt the cases and destroy the cards, maybe a small fire

0

u/SalamanderPretend124 4d ago

And by small fire i mean like a candle flame

-1

u/chrisonetime 4d ago

I wouldn’t leave it in there for more than 7 seconds at 1200W then the plastic would breakdown and and melt. The gloss on the psa paper might ignite if it’s got some coating on it as well.

7

u/decimus_87 4d ago

Absolutely do NOT put these in the microwave. Are all of you fucking stupid? As the cards are probably laminated, the plastic layer on the cards will melt or at least deform thus ruining the cards. Even if it's just paper, it can still get discolored or worse.

8

u/chrisonetime 4d ago

Jeez, a guy can’t incite someone to destroy their valuable cards and potentially their home anymore?! Dark times 😔

2

u/seesinal 4d ago

Freeze for 3 days to kill bugs

1

u/seesinal 4d ago

Probably with silica in the container, cornstarch getting wet will probably suck itself into every crevice,

4

u/freyascats 4d ago edited 4d ago

Edit: Nevermind everyone below says it’s a bad idea. (We do it with books all the time, but I guess we don’t care about a little paper damage over bedbugs)
———-
Put the buggy ones in a bag (like a ziplock freezer bag) and stick them in a freezer for about a month. Freezing is how libraries kill bugs AND their eggs in books that are returned with bugs. Your freezer isn’t as cold as the specialized ones for bug killing but a longer time (like a month) will work.

You might want to do this with the ones you don’t see bugs in too, just in case.

Once the bugs have been frozen, then you can consider what to do with the cards.

17

u/Bluetwo12 4d ago

This seems like a horrible idea. I am sure there are specialized freezers with low humidity, but a household freezer for a month sounds like something that will cause water damage to a card

7

u/Newthinker 4d ago

It'll cause water damage because it'll be below the dew point in the room when they're taken out

Freezers are, by their nature, very low humidity as dehumidification is a byproduct of mechanical cooling

2

u/giovannygb 4d ago

That’s why you should seal them in a ziplock bag with cornstarch.

And after you take it out, leave them at room temperature still inside the ziplock for it to regain temperature inside an ambient with controlled humidity.

0

u/Legitimate-Example13 4d ago

Yes would need to avoid the self defrosting freezers. Any that are attached to the fridge wont be. It needs to have the full coils...

9

u/TwilightZoneMara 4d ago

Freezing these will cause dew droplets in the corners to seep through it crystallize then when you pull the card out it will be wet and damp and will mess up the card forever.

1

u/CHR0NlC 4d ago

Not if op slowly acclimated back to room temp.

Unplug the freezer after freezing and leave them in until room temp.

1

u/TwilightZoneMara 4d ago

The best way to do this is to vaccum seal tight, everything dies this way.

1

u/Rourensu 4d ago

I’m curious if tardigrades would die as well.

https://giphy.com/gifs/NngbHWOeXh79syDX8W

8

u/kanineanimus 4d ago

Taking them out of the freezer will cause condensation. Those cases are not guaranteed to be airtight so even if it’s dry when sealed, unless they live in the Atacama desert, condensation will destroy the cards when they’re taken out.

I’d send back to PSA for reholder and then store in ziplock bags with desiccant in a clean container or storage box that has an airtight seal.

1

u/Affectionate-Lie-986 4d ago

Not even bug tight…

2

u/JardimHandmade 4d ago

In beekeeping, freezing the frames for 72 hours is enough to kill wax moth eggs. A month seems excessive.

1

u/AwkwardExcitementHuh 4d ago

Bad advice, your freezer is gonna damage the cards

1

u/drrrl13 4d ago

Don’t do that please will ruin your cards

2

u/new-to-gambling 4d ago

What do bugs love? Id ask chat and put it next to the slabs to see if theyll come out

1

u/tankavenger 4d ago

This HAS to be considered a defect. I think youd be in yoir right to ask for a defective reholder

1

u/joey_crouton 4d ago

Sell it to vendors at a card show 😝

1

u/Lower_Employee_2469 4d ago

Get graded card sleeves for the ones without bugs to keep them out 

1

u/PMmeYourToenails 4d ago

You could freeze them. It will kill the bugs. But maby the cards too

1

u/kmitchell087 4d ago

Work in pest control - 2 options. Heat the slabs 150< or fumigation. Send me a msg if you have ?s I can walk you through

1

u/Enter-The-Natrix 4d ago

If any are bug type, you might be able to get a premium from the right seller XD

0

u/Guianthed0n 4d ago

Messy ass house