Preserve Your Wardrobe: Seasonal Storage Guide

 


What happens to your favorite clothes that you can’t wear when the seasons change? You should be able to keep your clothes without worrying about them getting ruined as the seasons change. Living in an area that is always humid and damp significantly increases the risk of your clothes getting ruined if you don't have a secure place to store them. Finding affordable storage options like cheap storage units in Corpus Christi will allow you to store extra clothes and have more room in your home.

Unfortunately, simply packing clothes in a box and dropping it off at a storage facility is no longer enough to keep those clothes in good condition. To keep your clothes in good condition, you will need an actual plan on how to store seasonal clothes. 

The information and tips provided will help your clothes maintain the same quality they had the day you stored them.

Step 1: Prep and Clean Before You Pack

The first thing to keep in mind while trying to preserve items made of fabric is: never store items that are dirty. Clothing may look clean to the untrained eye and may have only been worn once, but clothing may trap body oils, sweat, perfume, and even skin cells. Over time, these materials will lead to oxidized materials and form permanent stains. On top of that, these residues tell pests to come and infest the fabric. Some of these pests include silverfish, carpet beetles, and moths.

This time is also great for organize seasonal wardrobe. It’s best to get rid of clothes you didn’t wear last season, or that you know you aren’t going to wear next season, and that don’t match your style anymore. Donating or recycling these inventory items will make your wardrobe a lot easier to pack and a lot easier to store.

You will also want to make sure everything is really 100% dry before storage. A very small amount of moisture will be enough to ruin everything by growing mold. Even worse will be the pests and mildew that will be drawn to it.

Step 2: Choose the Right Packing Supplies

Choosing the right supplies to pack your clothes impacts how well they hold up over time. Cardboard boxes are cheap and easy to find, but, unfortunately, they are thin and can be destroyed by moisture, humidity, and the weight of boxes stacked on top. It is well worth investing in quality, heavy-duty plastic clothes storage containers with snap-tight lids. These boxes will keep your clothes away from dust, pests, and moisture. 

Now say you are trying to store a coat, suit, or dress. Then you may need a different option. Wrapping these will cause more damage. Instead, look for something like a garment storage solution, like a wardrobe box, that contains a place to hang clothing. Use a canvas or fabric garment bag to cover these premium pieces. Stay away from the dry-cleaning bags.

A Note on Vacuum-Seal Bags: Vacuum-packing does a great job saving space for storage, but this is not a good choice for packing clothing. Vacuum-packing removes air and causes natural fibers to be compressed for a long time. This can permanently warp the shape, drape, and integrity of your favorite garments.

Step 3: Strategic Packing Techniques

Packing clothes for storage has to be done a certain way. If you are packing a lot of clothes, try rolling certain clothes instead of folding them. Casual clothes like t-shirts and jeans and athletic wear are good examples. Rolling them instead of folding them saves a lot of space and keeps the fabric from the clothes from forming creases.

Things you can’t roll should be handled with care. It’s best to pack heavier things at the bottom. This can include clothing like denim or coats. Packing things that are easily crushed, like blouses, can be packed on top.

If you want to be very careful, place acid-free tissue on the bottom of your bin, and then layer sheets between your more delicate items to prevent color bleeding. Don't use mothballs, which are very smelly and hard to get the scent out of. Instead, use cedar chips or lavender.

Finally, label each of your bins on the outside, or write what is in each bin on the exterior. This saves a ton of time and prevents you from having to open every single sealed bin to find one missing item.

Step 4: Choose the Right Unit and Protect Your Inventory

The local climate is important to consider when dealing with the preservation of textiles. Extreme temperature and humidity can easily lead to deterioration. Dry rotting in leathers and mold growth are only a couple of examples. This is why climate-controlled storage is so essential. These storage units are designed to keep temperature and humidity at a constant, moderate level so that you can rest easy knowing that there are no external threats to your clothing during storage.

Tons of options exist when it comes to climate-controlled storage. Before selecting one, be sure to evaluate the storage unit sizes. You want to avoid a unit that is way too big for your storage needs. Cramming storage under the ceiling can lead to a bunch of air quality issues as well. A unit that is 5x5 is generally perfect for housing a few seasonal wardrobe boxes. A unit that is 5x10 can fit a family’s wardrobe storage boxes and additional household items.

Be sure to be smart when you are storing your wardrobe boxes in the storage unit. Avoid placing boxes directly against the storage unit floor. Concrete can trap moisture and lead to mold. Some pallets can help with moisture, or consider purchasing a modular shelving unit. Always leave space between boxes and the walls for good airflow.

Before making a final commitment and signing a lease agreement, it is crucial to do your due diligence. For a comprehensive walkthrough on choosing the right facility, checking security systems, and understanding modern rental terms, check out these essential things to know before renting a storage unit.

Your Next Steps to Damage-Free Storage 

Keeping your wardrobe in check can be simple; it doesn't have to be a guessing game. Keep up with these seasonal clothing storage tips: thoroughly cleaning your clothes, using hard plastic containers instead of cardboard, storing things in an organized manner, and keeping the containers in a temperature-controlled place. These tips will help preserve your clothes for every season, no matter how many times you decide to wear your favorite dress or outfit.

Are you trying to keep your closet organized, but need a place to store your clothes? Check out some of the best-rated and safest storage facilities in Corpus Christi. You'll find the best storage solutions for your wallet while keeping your lifestyle in mind.



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