Clothing storage solutions
Wash all of your clothes and allow them to dry properly. This might sound obvious, but many bags of clothes are thrown out each year after their owner has packed them away while still damp and ended up with mould spots. Any food, drink or sweat stains can also attract pests.
Work out a system for your clothes storage. For example store all pants together and sweaters together, or keep colours together in piles.
- If you have a spare closet in the guest room or in the hall, consider yourself lucky! Your job is as easy as moving all of the hangers from your current wardrobe to your second storage space. Even if you just have a bit of extra space under the stairs or in the garage, you could always insert a wooden rod horizontally and hang your clothes on that. Make sure you use all of those extra hanging loops inside your garments so they don’t lose their shape. Also aim to give the clothes some space to breathe so air can circulate and you can reduce the risk of mildew, as well as creasing.
- Alternatively, invest in some vacuum bags made specifically for storing clothes between seasons. These should keep out the moths and mould, but make sure you check the pack for specific garments that shouldn’t be stored in this way (e.g. delicate fabrics).
- Plastic storage containers, rattan boxes or even an old suitcase are all great storage solutions as they can be stacked on top of each other and hidden away under beds or in spare rooms to maximise space. Make sure the boxes are sealed properly to avoid insects crawling inside. Carefully fold items and place in the container, with the heaviest items on the bottom. Roll linen items and lay silk garments flat. Don’t pack them too tightly so air can still circulate. You may like to use a chemical desiccant such as silica gel to absorb moisture in the box.
Remember to store these boxes in cool, dark and dry places. Anywhere with humidity may encourage mould to grow — and a nasty surprise when you open the box next summer.
If you don’t like the idea of chemicals sitting so close to your clothes, try natural moth repellents such as stems of lavender, sage leaves or even cotton balls dabbed with essential oils like rosemary, cedarwood or clove. Be sure to protect your clothes from oil stains.
More home organisation ideas
Declutter! One room at a time
Space-saving tips for your home
Storage solutions for small spaces
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