Ideas for Packing Away Summer Clothes
It is important that you take care of your clothing in order to avoid replacing it each year. This is also true when it comes to storing your clothes as the seasons change. There are some things that you can do when you pack away your summer clothes to ensure that they are ready to wear when the warm weather comes back.
- Take the time to prepare your clothes for storage. Sort your clothing and donate or toss any items that are worn or ruined or that you do not plan to wear again. Make sure every item is freshly washed and clean. Take care of any repairs or stain removal prior to packing away your clothing. If an item needs to be ironed, take care of that, as well. Consider purchasing mothballs or cedar balls to pack with your clothing. This can protect your clothes from being eaten by moths and pests and being destroyed.
- Sort your clothing. Separate your tops, bottoms, dresses, skirts and shoes. Fold them neatly and stack them in organized piles.
- Choose a storage location. If you have space in your basement or attic, this is an ideal option. However, if you must store your clothing under your bed or in your closet, you will need to find a storage system that will work for these locations. Decide where you are going to store your clothing so that you can decide on a storage method.
- Decide on a storage option. There are many different options available. The easiest is to stack your clothing into large plastic bins. These bins have lids which will protect your clothing from dirt, dust and pests. These bins are ideal for use in a dry basement or attic. If you decide to store your clothing in bins, be sure to fill them neatly. Stack them according to weight, with the heaviest bin on the bottom and clearly label the bin so that you know what is in it, without having to dig through and ruin your organization. If your basement is damp, you might want to store your clothing in vacuum-sealed bags. These bags are available at most retailers. You simply fill the bag with your clothing and zip it shut. Use the hose of your vacuum to remove the air. The bag will shrink down and become smaller, which makes storing easier. It will also be airtight and watertight, which makes it an ideal option for less-than-ideal storage conditions. If you need to store clothing or shoes under your bed, look for containers that are designed specifically for that purpose. You can find low, flat storage boxes that are great for storing folded clothing and shoes. The boxes are designed to fit under your bed after they are filled.