Tips for storing your clothes long term

People generally have many pieces of clothing but not enough space. It would be a shame to throw your clothes, especially if it is a new one. For this reason, you should consider storing them instead of throwing them away. If you want to wear those pieces again, you should know how to properly prepare your clothes for storing. It will be worth it in the long run. In addition to this, most clothing pieces are never out of fashion so you can use them over and over again. Therefore, here are all the important tips for storing your clothes long term. If you happen to move as well, make sure to find the best Columbus moving services. You can use these tips for packing your clothes for relocation. 

Make an inventory 

Before you start preparing your clothes for storing, do an inventory. You probably will not wear some pieces ever again. Why wasting space and money on keeping clothes you will not wear? For this reason, make three pile: keep (store), to go (donate/sell), and throw away. For the to-go pile, you have the following options. First, you can organize a garage sale. If you do not want to, you can try selling your clothes online. Advertise your clothes on Amazon, Craigslist, or on Facebook.

In addition to this, you can always donate some of your items or give them to your friends and family. If you plan to donate, here are to places to do so. 

• The Salvation Army 
• Goodwill 
• Dress for Success 
• Vietnam Veterans of America 
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul 
• American Red Cross 

Some of these charities organize a pickup, so make sure to call them. 

Wash and dry before storing your clothes long term 

You should not put your clothes into storage if they are dirty. For this reason, you should wash your clothes. Put it simply into the washing machine. Then, make sure to let it dry. Otherwise, you can have problems with mold. If you do not have to time do it yourself, then make a trip to dry cleaners. In addition to this, you can iron your clothes if you want. However, you can also skip this step as your clothes might get all wrinkled up.

Most people wash their clothes again after they take it out of storage. Then, you will iron it. Lastly, do not leave deodorant or perfume stains as they will attract unwanted guests. Therefore, cleaning your clothes is a good way to protect your storage from pests. 

Polish boots and shoes and repair any damages 

As with your clothes, shoes and boots need to be clean. After you clean them, it is time to polish your shoes and boots as well. You can rub a little oil into leather shoes. However, make sure to separate them from your other clothes to avoid oil stains. In addition to this, it would be wise to stuff your boots and shoes with clean tissues or paper, just like they do it stores. This way, you will keep their shape. 

Coming back to your clothes, you should repair any damages. Inspect your pieces of clothing. See if they have any small holes, missing buttons, and so on. Sew on missing buttons. In addition to this, stitch up any small holes. This way you will not waste time doing all of this when you take your clothes out of the storage unit. 

Do not use vacuum storage bags for storing your clothes long term 

Vacuum storage bags are perfect for saving space. However, they are not great for certain materials. If you have any pieces of clothing made of silk and wool, do not put them in vacuum storage bags. This bag can damage your clothes and force them to lose shape over time. For this reason, vacuum bags are good for a short period of time.

In addition to this, do not use cardboard boxes as well since mice like cardboard. Instead, you can use plastic bins that have an airtight lid. This will prevent pests from entering and will keep your clothes free from mold and mildew. Lastly, use wooden cedar balls. This will protect your clothes from moths and a musty smell. Furthermore, place wooden cedar balls at the top of your plastic bins, not inside. 

Pack properly 

As was mentioned already, you do not have to iron your clothes before storing your clothes long term. However, you should pack them properly. This means place heavier items at the bottom. Delicate items should go at the top. In addition to this, roll your clothes rather than folding them. You will be able to fit more clothes this way. Furthermore, do not overstuff your plastic bins or other storage containers.

This way, your clothes will get seriously wrinkled, so it would be a true nightmare to iron them. Lastly, if you have some pieces of clothing that should be hung, invest in a clothing rack. This is great for organizing your storage unit. 

Store your accessories as well 

Small items can be stored as well. See what you have in your coat rack or under the stairs. Gather all of your hats, gloves, and scarves. You can store them as well. This will free up some space for your summer accessories. Lastly, find the best moving and storage Columbus Ohio companies for storing your clothes long term. 

All the tips for storing your clothes long term 

As you can see, these would be all the important tips for storing your clothes long term. Remember, do an inventory. Wash, dry, and repair your clothes. Clean and polish your shoes and boots. Avoid vacuum bags and cardboard boxes. Pack your clothes properly. Lastly, do not forget to store your seasonal accessories. Make sure to follow all these tips in order to ensure the safety of your clothes.