Best Ways to Store Clothes

Whether it’s due to the changing seasons, or a house move, you may be looking to store your clothes away. If done incorrectly, you may find they are not exactly how you left them. We’re talking about holes, musty smells and sometimes even mould growing on your favourite items of clothing! With our help, you can prevent this from happening.

Here in the UK, we’re not the fortunate ones who can wear the same style clothes all year round; there’s a rule to always pack a jacket or a cardigan, just in case the weather takes a turn for the worst (our weather is very unique).

Instead, we regularly need to rotate our wardrobes to suit the seasons – spring and summer and autumn and winter. So if the time has come when you’re now looking to plan storage for your clothes, look no further, we can help you get all of your clothes packed and stored in the best possible way.

Step 1: Have a sort out

Before you worry about how you’re going to fit all of your clothes into storage containers, it’s good to have a clear out. This will save time and space, so it’s worthwhile. If there is anything you don’t think you’ll wear again, or you haven’t worn it all season, consider selling or donating it to a charity shop. If you have something that you want to keep, but is damaged, be sure to fix it before packing away – your future self will appreciate it.

Step 2: Put a wash on

Once you’ve decided what needs to be stored, you need to ensure all items are freshly washed prior to putting them into storage boxes for clothes. If you spill any drink or food (sometimes it goes unnoticed) it can attract bugs.

Not only that, but stains which haven’t been dealt with can be harder to remove once they’ve been left to settle in for a while. If you’re needing to store an occasional item, such as your wedding dress, this can be dealt with at the dry cleaners, if it’s just your summer clothes, you can put a load on at home.

Step 3: Make sure to dry your clothes well

Dampness won’t cut it. Clothes need to be completely dry before they can be stored. If, for example, you opt to use clothes bags, putting wet or even slightly damp clothes in the bag will cause all of the moisture to get trapped, which can ultimately cause mildew and mould to grow (sometimes mildew stains can be removed, but you don’t want to risk it).

Step 4: Consider containers

If you have more clothes than wardrobe space, you may be packing up the clothes for months, so you’ll probably be looking at  clothes storage boxes or vacuum bags. There’s something incredible about watching a pile of chunky jumpers shrink to a thin pack, and vacuum bags are a great solution to taking up little space but are only recommended for a short period of time.

Owing to how tight it packs things, it’s not great for those delicate items of clothing. Instead, opt for plastic boxes with air-tight lids which can be stacked.

Step 5: Look into how to pack your clothes effectively

Similar to how you pack your food shopping, when it comes to storing clothes heavier items should be placed at the bottom . It’s up to you whether or not you iron each item, but delicate clothes should always be placed on the top (just like your bread).

Think about whether rolling or folding is best. You may find you could fit more t-shirts in rolled up than you would if they had been folded. It’s important to not overcrowd in the containers as this could cause things to become misshapen. Don’t pack things which are recommended to be hung up, invest in clothes storage with a rail instead.

Step 6: Where to store

This is possibly the most difficult part when it comes to storing clothes: where to actually put them. The recommended temperature is around 12-18°C – that “not too hot, not too cold” feeling. Ideally, you would want it to be in complete darkness. This is because sunlight can slowly fade colours over time, and we wouldn’t want that!

Moth-eaten clothing is a very real issue, so you want the area to be well ventilated and free of moths before storing anything. Then, when you come to store them, don’t put the boxes too close to the wall as you want to ensure air can circulate.

If you don’t have space in your home which can meet all of these requirements, don’t worry. Instead, consider putting your clothing into a designated storage unit for as long as you need. Depending on how much you want to store, you can find a perfectly sized clothes storage unit here. Get in touch with theBoxx Storage team today to find the best solution for you.