How To Store Clothes Long Term

Tip For Storing Clothes

Many modern British properties are seriously lacking on the storage front. If your wardrobe is full to bursting point, then one clever way to solve your storage issues is to pack up winter clothes in summer months, and vice versa. Storage facilities are available in nearly every UK town and city, and are more cost-effective than moving house to a larger property. But before you start cramming clothes into cases, here’s how to store clothes long term properly to avoid damages.

Wash, Dry and Iron

Items should be laundered or dry cleaned, thoroughly dried and ironed if appropriate before putting them away. If you miss a stain or mark, the chances of getting that out after six months in storage are slim to nil. Deodorant marks or perfume sprayed on clothes can become permanent stains over time.

Have a Clear Out

We’re all guilty of keeping items of clothing which are out of fashion or don’t fit in the hope they’ll be useful again in the future. But there’s no point in storing items which you know deep down that you’re never going to use again. If you’re planning to store some items take the opportunity to get rid of the surplus. Take it to the charity shop, or sell valuable items online.

Buy some Crates

Vacuum bags are often sold as the best option for storing clothing and textiles. This type of storage is fine for artificial fibres, but items made from natural fibres like silk or wool don’t react well to being vacuum packed for the long term. A much better option is clear plastic crates, which you can stack one on top of the other and see at a glance what’s stored inside. Cardboard isn’t a good idea as mice and insects can chew through it easily. Work out whether you want to store things according to type of clothing, colour or size.

Pack Carefully

How you pack your things into crates will depend on what type of things you’re storing. As a general rule, it’s best to store heavy things at the bottom of the crate, and put delicate items on top. So store your heavy winter coats at the base, putting cashmere sweaters or a crisp cotton shirt on top. Don’t cram too much into one case. It’s often better to roll up items for storage rather than folding. If you have dresses and blouses which are better hung than folded, look for hanging rails and use suit carriers to protect them.

Find Safe Storage

Attics aren’t always the best place to store your clothing. You need to find somewhere that is cool and dry. Clothes kept in garages or sheds can often get damp, and those stored in direct sunlight can fade, even through a plastic crate. If you have a lot of stuff, or if it’s worth a bit of money, look at local storage companies. Most have a variety of different sized units, from cupboard to garage size so you can store clothes long term hassle free.