Top 3 Tips On How To Best Store Your Winter Clothing

Are Your Winter Clothes Hogging Too Much Space In Your Home?

Alberta winters are rough and demand plenty of you and your wardrobe. But as the snow melts and the weather warms, what is one to do with their bulky winter clothing? If you haven’t already, store your winter wardrobe elsewhere: in a storage closet in your home or in a self-storage unit. Here are a few pointers on how to make the most of winter storage with the help of a U•STORE•IT self-storage unit.

1. Clean, Clean, Clean

Should you clean your winter clothes before you stow them away for months? The answer is a definitive yes. Dirty clothes will only get harder to clean with time as stains and odours further settle in. That’s not all, you also have to make sure your clothes are dried out before they’re packed to avoid mould and mildew build up.

It’s a must to create an inventory of your items going into storage. Make sure to label everything and pack like items together so you’ll have an easy time finding them later. One benefit of cleaning your entire winter wardrobe now – they’ll be ready to wear when it’s time to take them out in the fall.

2. Store Effectively

One great way to save space is to pack your winter clothes in vacuum-sealed bags. Compressing your clothing with these bags is a handy way to maximize your storage space, not to mention you’ll know exactly what you have going into storage thanks to clear packaging. The key to using vacuum bags is to make sure your usage is strictly short term: less than six months is the recommended amount of time. The longer you keep clothing in vacuum bags, the longer you risk having the fabrics and materials damaged due to the lack of air present. If you know your items need to be stored longer than 6 months or you are storing natural fibres such as wool or fur clothing, or fluffy items such as down jackets or leather, we don’t recommend vacuum sealing. Instead, pack these items in boxes or breathable bags.

3. Climate Control

One major reason people elect to store their clothing outside of their home is to avoid sunlight damage and damp basement spaces. Clothes can become susceptible to mould, mildew or discolouration from simply sitting in damp spaces. When dealing with winter storage, it is recommended to use self-storage spaces with climate control – much like the ones U•STORE•IT offers – that work to reduce the risk of heat and moisture damage.

These tips can make a lasting difference in how you feel about your home and how your winter clothing takes up space during the spring and summer months.