How To Simply Store Clothes Long Term

Now that British Summer Time has ended and our nights are drawing to a close sooner than the summer days, you might be looking in your wardrobe thinking of what to do with your summer dresses and shorts. It’s that time of year where you have a ‘clothes rotation’…the jumpers come out and swimwear gets stored away. But, where exactly do you store your clothing? 

 

Storage can be useful not only for the winter months, but for all year round too. Whether you don’t have enough space in your home to store the clothing that is ‘out of season’, have items that are vintage, would like to save your children’s clothing for any potential new family members, or are an owner of a clothing store, storage is an extremely helpful option. 

 

So, if you have chosen to store your clothes, it’s time to think about how to store them. You can’t just throw your clothes into storage with no order and walk away, otherwise they might wear away over time. That’s where we come in. We’re here to help you store your clothes properly to ensure they leave your unit in the same condition they entered it. So, read on to find out 7 useful tips.

#1 Part ways with unwanted items

There probably isn’t a single person who hasn’t looked at a piece of their clothing and thought ‘I haven’t worn that in a while, but, I’ll probably wear it sometime soon’…then that poor item of clothing has been left to sit there for months on end with no purpose. 

 

It’s been said that if you haven’t worn something in a year, you probably won’t wear it again, so be ruthless and get rid of it. Somebody else might find happiness with the item you’re leaving to rot in your wardrobe. It’s no point storing something that is going to become storage forever. With that said, have a clear out and donate any unwanted clothes to charity.

 

#2 Clean before you store

The cleaner your clothes are before you store them, the cleaner they are when they come out – simple. You wouldn’t put a dirty t-shirt back into your wardrobe, so why would you put it into storage? 

 

To reduce the risk of permanent stains or funny smells, make sure to wash and dry your items thoroughly before storing them. If you store your items whilst damp, then they will develop an off smell and even begin to mould. Avoid using an iron as that can weaken the fibres and be more prone to damage when folded.

#3 Carry out any repair work

Everyone knows the pain of losing a button or pulling a piece of thread and although some find it a chore to repair it, it’s actually really quick and easy. By doing this, you’ll thank yourself when you take your items out of storage and it will feel like you’ve just been on a shopping spree for new clothes.

#4 Make an inventory

If you’re storing a great deal of clothing, it can be hard to keep track of what you store, especially if you’re adding and removing items or coming back to your storage months later. By creating an inventory list, you can keep track of any changes with the items you store which makes it easier for you to know what is where and when. 

 

A great way to make your inventory even more effective is to use a labelling system. By storing your clothing into categories such as ‘men’s t-shirts’ and ‘women’s jumpers’, it makes your place of storage much more organised and you’ll find it extremely easy to locate your items.

#5 Find the best container

We’d recommend staying away from paper, cardboard or wooden boxes as they can often become a haven for pests and insects. We’d also suggest refraining from using vacuum tight bags as they can alter the shape of your clothing…and you don’t want a shirt with buttons that don’t match up! Instead, we suggest using airtight plastic boxes whereby you can fold or roll your clothes into them comfortably. 

 

#6 Store correctly

It’s best to fold most items – anything like woollen jumpers can stretch if they are hung on a clothes hanger. When you fold your items, make sure you fold them properly to get the most of the space you’re using. That being said, don’t cram too many clothes into one container as you might find some of your items will change shape if they are squashed. To reduce the likelihood of creases, we’d recommend you roll your items into a cylinder shape.

#7 Choose a suitable storage space

Over time, clothing can be a victim of damage from damp, cold, heat or light. To reduce the risk of this happening, it is vital that you choose the correct storage space for you. Something like a storage unit is well ventilated and dark which means that your clothes are protected from any external damage.

 

Equally, choosing a storage unit means you can reduce clutter in your home whilst having peace of mind that your items are securely locked away.

Get the ball rolling

Now that we have provided you with our advice, it’s your turn to take action and decide on what is the best option for you. We hope this blog has been useful and if you need any more information please feel free to get in touch

 

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