Tips to store your clothes for Long Term

If you feel like your wardrobe is overcrowded, you may be wondering what you can do to save some space. Well, one of the most effective ways to declutter your wardrobe space is by storing away the clothes that you don’t wear a lot. 

“But how do I do that”, you ask. Well, not much is needed in this case. All it takes is a little preparation and sorting and you’re halfway done. You also have to be cautious when sorting what you need and what you don’t, so that you won’t need something that you’ve already stored. 

To make it easier for you, here are some tips that you can use when storing clothing that you may not need any time soon:

1. Wash and dry them thoroughly
Before storing your clothes, be sure to clean and dry them properly. This may be something as simple as putting them in your washing machine and dryer or even taking a trip to the dry cleaners for a thorough job. 

One of the main reason for ensuring that your clothes are clean and dry before storing them is to keep away the creepy crawlies that like dirty places. Besides, no one wants to start washing their clothes after storing them for so long. You, however, don’t have to iron your clothes before storing them; you most probably will have to iron them after getting them from the storage boxes. 

2. Polish boots and shoes
Ensure that your boots and shoes are well cleaned and polished before storing them. However, be sure to keep the shoes separate from the rest of your clothes. You should also stuff the shoes with some tissue paper or any other applicable material to help them retain their shape. 

3. Repair damaged items
If you decided to keep certain items, be sure to check them for damage before storage. Repairing any damages before storage will make the retrieval process an easy time as you won’t have to deal with any tasks that you postponed (we all know how that irks). 

4. Don’t keep clothes you won’t wear again
There is no need to finish up space with clothes that you no longer wear for whatever reason(s). If you have such clothes in your wardrobe, just get rid of them. You can sort them into three categories: clothes that you will store, the ones you will toss into the bin, and the ones you will give to charity. 

5. Avoid using vac storage bags for long-term storage of clothes
Vacuum bags can squish items stored in them, and if such items are made from natural fibers such as silk or wool, they might end up losing their shape. Well, vac bags might be great for storing your clothes for a short period, but not when you plan to store your items for several months. 

If storing your clothes for long, be sure to use plastic storage boxes with an airtight lid. Be sure to avoid cardboard boxes, since mice will chew through such. 

6. Pack properly
When packing your clothes, there is no need to iron them. However, you will benefit from packing them properly. Place the heavier items at the bottom and the lighter ones at the top. Rolling items is also a good trick if you want to fit more clothes into one box. 

You should, however, avoid overstuffing your storage box to keep the items in it from losing shape. Be sure to get a storage box that has a hanging rail if you have any items that must be hung rather than folded or rolled. 

7. Choose the right storage location
The rule of thumb when storing items such as clothes is that they should be in a place that is 23°C or cooler, with a relative humidity of 55. However, the figures should not worry you. As long as you place your clothes in a place that is cool, dry, clean, and dark, they should be fine. 

The reason why clothes should be stored in a dark place is that bright light fades colors. If for any reason, you’re not able to store your clothes at your house, you might want to take advantage of the services of a storage company. 

8. Consider storing accessories as well 
You can also store accessories such as coat racks, cupboards, and more, to free up space and make your house look tidier. After you have stored the clothes, consider keeping away any accessories that are not in use. However, this depends on whether it’s easy to move such accessories. 

In summary, 
The above tips should make it a bit easier for you to store and retrieve your clothing when the time to do so comes. In addition to enjoying the extra space, you will have peace of mind throughout the time that you don’t need the items that are going into storage.