How to look after your Pokémon cards

Cards that are bent, scratched or wet don't look as good, so it's worth taking care of them. Here's how.

Use sleeves

A sleeve is a thin plastic pocket for one card. Slide your best cards into sleeves as soon as you open them.

Keep them in a binder

Card binders have pages with pockets that hold your cards flat. Use binders with side-loading pockets so cards don't slip out, and avoid ring binders where the rings can dent the cards.

Hands clean and dry

Wash your hands before looking at your collection, and keep drinks and food away.

No rubber bands

Rubber bands bend and dent cards. Use a card box or deck box instead.

Keep out of the sun

Bright sunlight can fade colours, and damp places can make cards curl. A shelf in your room is perfect.