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Many of us have at least heard of the issues people encounter when they don’t properly store their clothes. The clothes get destroyed by moths or infiltrated by the elements, and when the owners finally open the boxes, they are met with horror and disappointment.
Well, we’re here to say that they made these mistakes so you don’t have to. In order to evade such circumstances, however, you have to go the extra mile on your storage prep, and that includes doing a bit of research on best practices. In this guide we will cover that as well as offer you some nifty ideas for storing those bulkier items out of the way. When you’re equipped with the proper knowledge, you can keep you precious belongings for years to come. Let’s get started!
First thing’s first. It is absolutely essential that you launder your clothing before you store it away. This might seem a bit strange considering that you won’t be wearing these garments for the next several months, but bear with us.
There is no doubt that it’s much more pleasant to uncover your favourite clothing after it’s been stowed and untouched for six months when it is clean. Yet, there is more to the picture than this. Pests like the common clothes moth absolutely love it when items are soiled with sweat or even urine. They are remarkably sneaky when they invade your interiors and can even spread to other parts of the home. Laundering or dry-cleaning your items—especially woolens, cashmere, and leather—is your first line of defence.
Now that your clothing is prepped for storage, it’s time to take a look at where and how to put them away. For starters, if you’re seriously not going to be touching these items for an extended period of time, we recommend placing some mothballs or formaldehyde pest oil. Alternatively, a more eco-friendly option is to fill some sachets with lavender or to add a few drops of cedar oil to the boxes or bins where you’ll be keeping your belongings for good measure.
If you feel you’re at risk for moths, it’s a good idea to keep your clothing in airtight containers. For those items that are damaged by extreme temperatures, it’s best to stow them inside. Putting them in your closet will allow easy access and safekeeping. Reserve the highest zone for the items you plan to store long term to keep them in sight but out of the way.
Another place to consider if you’d like to keep your items to hand is to house them in boxes or bins under the bed. This option is ideal if you’re only looking to put away a few sweaters rather than an entire wardrobe of clothes. Labelling the boxes will make your life easier in case you need to access one of these items before the season changes again. Clear boxes or bins also work well for this reason.
If you’re looking to buy a new bed, consider purchasing one that comes with enough space to store clothing or bed linens beneath the mattress. This will also help to free up the space beneath your bed for storing other things.
If you have a lot of items that need to be stored, the garage is a good possibility. Shoes are typically fine to keep out here, which is good news because footwear alone can clutter up valuable space inside.
Just remember to use sturdy boxes that won’t be deteriorated or chewed through by pests. If there are multiple boxes, like there are in this example, it’s certainly useful to label them as well.
Another excellent option for housing your unused items in a more easily accessible place is to invest in a storage cabinet that you can put in a discreet place in the home. If you are pressed for space, for instance, opt for a set of floor-to-ceiling cabinets that are painted the same colour as the surrounding walls. This way, they blend in with the existing interior, and their appearance is subtler.
You can certainly get creative when it comes to keeping your bulkier items in a storage cabinet as we can see in this example by Chasewood Furniture. We are big fans of exploiting the vacant space beneath the stairs for something useful. Installing some bespoke cupboards that slide in and out of this space will keep your clothes handy yet hidden away.
Finally, one of the most common places we think of when it comes to storing away various items in the home is the attic. This is all well and good, but we are here to advise you to take this storage hub to the next level by installing a thoughtful, well-organised storage system up here. One way to do this is by installing custom shelving. This way all items are effectively stored and fully visible for when you need to grab something in a hurry. In fact, you can even finish your attic and use it as a second closet or luxurious dressing room if you please. Taking the time to thoroughly arrange the closet space will ensure that you’re using it to its fullest potential.
For more tips on storing clothes, check out these alternatives to a classic wardrobe or armoire.
