You won’t be using winter clothes for the entire year, so you can consider storing them in a storage unit or somewhere safe in your home. But you might be worried about your winter clothes getting damaged during storage. It’s important to store your winter clothes properly so that when it’s time to use them again, they will be ready for use. Here are tips to follow when storing winter clothes.

1. Prepare Your Winter Clothes: Launder and Mend Before Storing

Before you begin storing your winter clothes, you have to make sure that they are clean first. It’s important to wash your winter clothes and ensure that they are free from dirt or stains. If you store dirty winter clothes, chances are, they could attract pests and produce bad odors, mold, or mildew. Unclean clothes could also possibly lead to stains or damage.

So, make sure to wash your winter clothes first before you start storing them. It’s also important to make sure that they are completely dry. Moisture can cause mold and mildew and lead to unwanted odors. To avoid having ruined winter clothes in storage, make sure they are dry before putting them away. For your shoes, make sure to wipe and polish them.

As you wash your winter clothes, you may notice clothing that needs repairing. You could have clothes with missing buttons or minor rips and shoes that need new soles. Before you store these items, make sure to have them repaired first.

Just a bonus tip, while you are preparing clothes, you can also take this time to choose which winter clothes to keep and which ones to let go of.

2. Use Plastic Storage Bins for Your Winter Clothes

Using plastic bins or containers is a good way of keeping your winter clothes safe in storage. They are a good option for storing non-delicate clothing. You can fold and place jeans and sweatshirts in the bottom of the plastic bin and shirts and skirts on top.

Using clear plastic bins will allow you to see what’s inside, which can be very convenient if you need to retrieve your winter clothes again. You can also use colored plastic bins, but just make sure to label them to make things easier in the future.

Additionally, keep in mind not to overfill these containers. Your clothes need to breathe, and items with enough space wrinkle less.

3. Wrap Delicates in Acid-Free Tissue Paper

When folding clothing, make sure to give an added layer of protection to delicate items such as silk scarves or cashmere sweaters. You can cover delicates with acid-free tissue paper before you store them in storage bins.

Tissue paper will help prevent color transfer and maintain the fabric’s softness. It can also prevent snagging for clothing with embellishments. Place smaller delicate accessories such as wool or silk scarves on top of heavier items.

4. Group Similar Items Together

When storing your winter clothes, it’s good to keep things organized. For organization, you can group similar items together. For instance, keep all sweaters in one area and all winter coats in another. Separate clothes from shoes, and separate items that need to be folded and those that you need to hang.

You can categorize winter items, such as clothes, shoes, and accessories, and group all similar items together. This will make things easier for you when you want to find something.

5. Fold Sweaters and Winter Coats

You should fold sweaters because hanging them will cause fabrics to stretch and become misshapen. When placing sweaters in plastic bins, remember that the lighter ones should be on top and the heavier ones on the bottom.

For winter coats, while it may be tempting to hang them, doing so can distort their shape. It is better to fold them and store them in a plastic bin. Do not forget to empty the pockets before you store.

6. Hang Furs and Dresses

You should hang clothing that can get wrinkled or damaged if you fold them. Hang furs and dresses made out of delicate materials and place them in cotton garment bags. Dresses that are not made of delicate materials can be folded and placed inside a plastic storage bin.

7. Use Garment Bags

Use garment bags for items that you will hang. Plastic bags or dry cleaner bags will not protect your winter clothes in storage, but breathable garment bags will. They can protect your winter clothes from dirt, dust, moths, and mold and keep them in good condition.

8. Avoid Using Vacuum-Sealed Bags

While vacuum bags help you save space, they do not allow your winter clothes to breathe. Down jackets, heavy wool clothing, leather products, and cashmere clothing shouldn’t be vacuum-sealed.

Natural fibers need to breathe. Vacuum sealing can cause clothes to lose their shape and form, as the natural fibers become overly compressed. Moisture can become trapped in the bags, which would lead to more problems. So, you should avoid using vacuum-sealed bags for your winter clothes.

9. Keep Pests Away With Lavender Sachets or Cedar Balls

Keep pests away with lavender sachets or cedar balls, not mothballs. While mothballs are good for repelling pests, they contain toxic elements and can leave a strong odor on your clothes. Lavender sachets or cedar balls, on the other hand, can keep pests away and leave a pleasant smell at the same time.

With lavender sachets or cedar balls, your winter clothes will smell fresh and remain pest-free. So, avoid using mothballs and go for lavender sachets or cedar balls instead.

10. Choose the Right Storage Space for Your Winter Clothes

You should store your winter clothes in a place that is cool, dry, and dark to prevent damage to your clothes caused by heat and moisture. Extreme temperatures and humidity can cause damage to your clothes, so it’s important to choose the right storage space.

Consider renting a climate-controlled storage unit, as this comes with numerous benefits. Your winter clothes will be protected against extreme temperatures and humidity, which means that they will remain in good condition. Your belongings will be safe in a storage facility, and you will also have more space at home.

Are you interested in renting a storage unit for your winter clothes? Contact us today!