Card games are very popular. In my case I enjoy playing bridge with friends. Many playing cards can be purchased relatively cheaply, but if you play a lot of playing cards, you may find yourself buying new packs of playing cards repeatedly.

Cheap cards might not break the bank to replace, but suppose someone has given you a nice, decorative, boxed set of cards. There are plenty around, and these can cost around $15 (£12). It’s still not a huge amount, but you don’t want to keep paying to replace them, and the gift could also have sentimental value.

You want to take care of your cards properly so that 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. Kids’ sticky fingers (and adults’ sticky fingers) will quickly prevent the cards from fanning out and make dealing and shuffling more difficult. If you’re a bridge player playing with friends, perhaps hand out a pack of baby wipes after that important tea and cake break.

Second, be sure to be careful when you put the cards back in their box at the end of a game. It takes just a few seconds to gently push 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 your box, you’ll quickly damage the edges and corners, again making it difficult to deal and unfold 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 unplayable.

Fourth, if the cards become sticky because sticky fingers touched them, please try to wipe 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 be buying 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 make them unfold and deal much easier.

This will reduce rough handling if players have a hard time deploying the sticky cards. It will also help players with reduced dexterity by making it easier to spell and manage their cards.

I saw you suggest that a small amount of talcum powder might have a similar effect. I think I’ll try that one too.

Sixth. Handle your cards carefully when they are in their boxes. Throwing them in a cupboard, dropping them on the floor, or jamming them at an angle between other heavy objects will damage the case and put pressure on the cards, causing them to warp.

Taking care of your cards only requires a little TLC, but it will pay dividends in lower replacement costs.