Have you ever put clothes away only to discover weird yellow stains on them, worn-out elastic, or evidence of pest damage when you pulled them out later?
If so, you are aware of how disappointing and upsetting that can be. However if you adhere to the guidelines given below when you store clothes for yourself or your younger children, they'll still look beautiful and smell fresh when you pull them out again for future use without getting damaged.
Buy, Sell, Donate, or Hold
It's time to consider removing any clothing you don't need before you even start washing and packing your items for storage (otherwise, you'll end up creating more work for yourself later on). Sorting your clothing into the four categories of keep, sell, reuse, and give is a great way to get rid of the items you don't need.
Keep
Put all the clothing in your "keep" category that you intend to keep for future frequent wear and store it for a long time. Consider what clothing you might require for the duration of the storage period if you are storing garments because the seasons are changing. For instance, if you're storing your fall/winter clothing, you could still require a coat in case of inclement weather.
Sell
It's possible that you have some garments in good shape that you don't want to keep because you've changed your style or they no longer fit. The best products to sell are these. They may be sold via an app, online, or even at a car boot sale.
Reuse
The greatest approach to reuse your clothing and give it a new lease on life is through recycling or reusing. If you're not good at sewing, you may upcycle a dress into a t-shirt or use the fabric to make dust cloths. In either case, there's plenty of space for creativity!
Clean and dry your clothing.
You should properly wash and dry your clothing before deciding how to store it. You can give your garments the best chance of being immaculate when they come out of storage by properly removing any stains, washing, and drying them.
Food stains, such as a drop of wine or even a few crumbs, can only worsen if you ignore them for a long time. Additionally, it's possible that they'll entice mice and other pests to your stored clothing. Clothes should be stored as fresh as possible to ensure that they are kept undisturbed and look just as good as when you first placed them in.
You might want to get them dry cleaned, but since you or your dry cleaner will only need to iron them once they are taken out of storage again, we advise against doing so.
Conceal the situation
It is best to prevent as much harm to the garment as possible prior to and during storage.
Repair any broken clothing before storing it.
You should carefully check everything you intend to save for flaws like a missing button or a seam tear. Make sure to fix them so they look brand-new when you get them out of storage.
Wash, dry, and store items carefully.
There is much more to washing and drying your clothing than simply putting them in the washer and hitting start. To avoid any fading or damage, pay strict attention to the care label, try to air dry items if possible, and use moderate detergents. Any improper washing or handling of the clothing will only be highlighted when it is kept in long-term storage.
Keep everything in a cool, dry, and dark place.
The simplest ways to harm your garments while they are in storage are direct sunlight and excessive temperatures. Selecting a location that is dark and below 23°C in temperature is recommended because direct sunlight may lead your clothing to lose its colour and high temperatures can deform or even melt some fabrics. If your existing storage location is unsuitable, the best solution for you can be a container storage unit that meets all the necessary criteria.
Pick the ideal storage containers.
You can store your garments in a variety of containers, such as vacuum bags, clothing bags, boxes made of cardboard and plastic containers. Let's consider what is ideal.
Choose containers that are not cardboard or vacuum-sealed.
We don't advise keeping your clothing in vacuum-sealed bags or cardboard boxes for an extended period of time. Although vacuum sealed bags save space, they might harm delicate or natural fibres, eventually causing them to lose their shape. Cardboard boxes offer little moisture protection.
Plastic packaging prevents clothing damage.
The ideal way to store clothing for an extended period of time is in plastic-lidded containers since they keep your clothing dry, mold-free, and safe. Ensure that the boxes are acid-free and wrap any particularly delicate things in tissue paper. To keep your clothing especially fresh and keep moths away, you might also add cedar balls.
Pack carefully.
It's time to start packing now that you've cleaned and organised your clothes and selected the appropriate storage options. It's ideal to consistently fold and wrap your clothing for storage. You can choose to fold something simply, roll it up to save space, or do it in a unique fashion. Just make sure it's regular and that you're not stuffing your containers too full. Clothes that are being stored require airflow.
To avoid your clothes from losing their shape, store your heavier clothing and accessories towards the bottom of the bag or box and your lighter stuff on top.
Locate the ideal storage facility.
There are a lot of ideal places to store these garments, but as we already mentioned, you must make sure it's in a cool, dark, and dry area.
Your garage, attic, or loft
You frequently think of these locations first when you need to store anything, let alone clothing. Make sure to note any extreme temperatures or ultraviolet radiation that your storage boxes may experience when inspecting the location. They might be vulnerable to increased moisture and perhaps flooding, much like basements. Overall, in order to avoid damage, you must carefully verify the security of your preferred place.