What to Do With Old VHS Tapes: Preserve Your Home Movies Today

You found a box of old VHS tapes—family birthdays, your wedding, a child’s first steps—and now you're wondering what to do with them. They’re filled with precious moments, but those tapes won’t last forever.

If you're searching for “what to do with old VHS home movies”, you’re not alone—and you're asking the right question.

Why Old VHS Tapes Can’t Wait

VHS tapes—and other magnetic formats like Beta and Hi8—weren’t designed to last for decades. In fact, they start breaking down in as little as 15 years, and after 25–35 years, they may be completely unplayable due to something called Sticky Shed Syndrome.

And it’s not just tapes—prints, slides, negatives, 8mm reels, and film are also slowly fading, warping, or chemically deteriorating.

📊 See for yourself:

Don’t Just Store It—Digitize It

You might be tempted to store those tapes in a closet or attic, but that won’t protect them. Heat, humidity, and time are quietly erasing the memories.

Digitizing is the only way to preserve them—and the best time to do it is now.

At Heirloom, we specialize in transforming old tapes, photos, and reels into digital files you can watch, share, and pass down. We:

• Carefully clean and inspect every media item
  

• Fix broken tapes for free

• Convert every tape format: VHS, Hi8, MiniDV and more!

You’re Not Too Late—But Your Media Is Aging

We hear it all the time:
“I kept meaning to digitize these tapes… but now they’re ruined.”

Every week that passes increases the risk of losing something irreplaceable.

So, if you're wondering what to do with old VHS tapes, the answer is clear:

🎯 Digitize them today, not someday.

Start Digitizing Now with Heirloom

Preserving your family’s history doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how it works:

1. Order an Heirloom Box

2. Drop it off at any UPS Store

3. Enjoy memories from your digital vault

Your moments are too important to leave on a shelf.

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Geoff Weber

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Geoff, a retired military officer, founded Heirloom to make personal digital archiving simple and secure—helping families preserve and enjoy priceless memories for generations.