As the seasons change, your wardrobe needs do, too. If you simply rotate key pieces from front to back of your closet, you could end up cramped for space – and fast. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be like that. You can easily reclaim your space by putting your off-season clothing into a self-storage unit. But you do need to take the right approach to prevent things from getting ruined. Ready to get started? Here’s how to store clothes properly as the seasons fly by.
Get the Right Clothing Storage Supplies
In order to keep all your wardrobe items in great shape, you cannot simply shove them in cardboard boxes and call it good. Instead, you need to invest in the right clothing storage supplies.
Ideally, you’ll want to get:
- Metal Z-racks
- Plastic storage containers
- Breathable garment bags
- Hanging organizers
- Lavender sachets
- Wooden hangers
Although they can help save space, it’s best to skip the vacuum bags for seasonal clothes. They are better used for pillows, quilts, and other bulky items.
Don’t skimp on either quality or quantity of storage containers here. The items you have for storing and organizing your seasonal clothes will pay you back in dividends in the future. You’ll save time looking for key wardrobe pieces plus have an easier time keeping your clothing in great condition year after year.
Wash, Dry, and Iron Your Off-Season Garments
Before putting your clothing in storage, take a moment to wash, dry, and iron all your off-season garments. If you notice any missing buttons from pants or shirts, mend the damage – or reflect on whether it’s a good time to say goodbye to that piece.
In fact, now is a great time to throw out any seasonal clothing you never really wear or simply don’t like anymore. Every item you donate, recycle, or simply throw out is something you don’t have to pay to store.
Otherwise, provide your clothing with the proper level of care before storing them. Iron out all the wrinkles. Polish your shoes. De-pill your sweaters. Get delicates and jackets dry cleaned. Think about how you want the items to look when you put them on and do what it takes to get them wear ready.
Use the Best Clothing Storage Solutions for Each Item
You cannot simply place all your items in storage bins or hang them on racks. Each piece requires a bit of thought to ensure it’s placed in just the right spot for long-term storage.
If you have a handful of beautiful knit sweaters, for example, you’ll want to loosely fold them into a rectangle and stack them in a dark plastic storage box. Hanging your sweaters would stretch out the knit fibers, after all, causing them to lose their shape. Make sure to throw a lavender satchel or mothballs into the box to keep moths at bay before closing it up.
As far as tops, dresses, and pants go, put each one on a wooden hanger and place them on the z-rack. Leave plenty of airspace between the items to keep mold and mildew from growing. Similarly, skip the breathable garment bags for your regular clothes and save them for winter jackets, ski gear, and the like.
To save space, shoes, socks, and undergarments can go in hanging organizers. The open-faced design keeps airflow maximized while the hanger allows you to store them at the end of your z-racks.
Organize the Storage Space with Easy Access in Mind
After putting all your clothing in the right storage spots for their needs, organize the space by season. For example, organize closets by placing all your cold season items on the left hand side, for example, and the rest on the right.
If you cannot do that, consider labeling the racks, boxes, and hanging organizers with the season. Either way, your efforts in organizing the storage unit will save you tons of time when it comes to grab next season’s clothing.
When you take the right approach, your stored clothing will stay in great shape for years. Just make sure to come by every six months or so to shake out and refold any clothing you won’t wear that year. Otherwise, the creases from the folds could permanently change the shape of the fabric.
