Card games are very popular. In my case I enjoy playing bridge with friends. Many cards can be purchased relatively cheaply, but if you play cards a lot, you may find yourself buying new packs of cards repeatedly.
Cheap cards may not break the bank to replace them, but suppose someone has given you a nice, decorative, boxed set of cards. There are plenty around, and these can be around $15 (£12). It’s still not a huge amount, but you don’t want to keep paying to replace them and the gift might have sentimental value too.
You want to care for your cards properly so you can enjoy using them but give them as much life as possible before you have to replace them.
There are very simple ways to do this.
First, make sure your hands are clean before handling the cards. The sticky fingers of children (and the sticky fingers of adults) will quickly prevent cards from fanning out and make dealing and shuffling difficult. If you’re a bridge player playing with friends, maybe hand out a packet of wet wipes after that all-important tea and cake break.
Second, be sure to be careful when putting cards back in their box at the end of a game. It only takes a few seconds to gently press the cards into place so they form an even stack with no loose cards sticking out of the edges or corners. If you don’t do this and put an uneven deck of cards back in its box, you’ll quickly damage the edges and corners, again making it difficult to deal and spread out the cards.
Third, try to keep your cards away from a humid atmosphere. Storing them in a damp closet, on a condensation-prone window sill, or in a damp basement will cause them to warp and discolor, making them impossible to reproduce.
Fourth, if the cards become sticky because sticky fingers touched them, try wiping them gently with a damp cloth that has been wrung out. This will remove any cake or candy bar residue.
Fifth, something I hadn’t come across until I started researching this item, but I think I’ll buy some. Fan powder. Available for just a few pounds or dollars at a well-known site named after a South American river. You apply a small amount of energy to the surface of the cards and this helps them unfold and deal much more easily.
This will reduce rough handling if players have difficulty unfolding the sticky cards. It will also help players with reduced dexterity by making it easier to spell and handle their cards.
I saw that you suggested that a small amount of talcum powder might have a similar effect. I think I’ll try that one too.
Sixth. Handle your cards with care when they are in their boxes. Throwing them in a cabinet, dropping them on the floor, or wedged them at an angle between other heavy objects will damage the box and put pressure on the cards, causing them to warp.
Taking care of your cards only requires a little care, but it will pay dividends in lower replacement costs.