Introduction
When you live in a cold climate, you understandably have a large collection of seasonal clothes compared to people living in places with minimal temperature changes. That’s why you need a large wardrobe or some other storage solutions for your seasonal clothing. When it’s time to clean the wardrobe and other such places, you can search for “cleaning services near me” and hire pros for the job. Let’s check out some of the options and how you should store your seasonal clothing.
The Details
1. Plastic bins and containers
In the age of Amazon, you probably accumulate a lot of cardboard boxes every month at your home. It’s tempting to use those for storing your seasonal clothing. However, that’s far from ideal. Instead, you should use plastic containers and bins for storing your clothes. Not those collapsible and flimsy containers. You need to invest in plastic storage options with secure lids.
If you use cardboard boxes, no matter the thickness, they will eventually fall apart and are more difficult to move around. Cardboard boxes are also organic matter that’s amazing nutrition for insects and rodents. If there’s moisture, cardboard boxes would also start rotting and developing mold very quickly. Moreover, cardboard boxes stored over a long time can develop stains and transfer that onto your clothes.
That’s why sealable plastic containers are a better option. They are much more durable, won’t rot, don’t appeal to the taste pallets of insects and rodents, and don’t allow moisture to have a musty smell on your clothes. Make sure that you don’t pack your clothes too tightly so that there’s room for air circulation inside the bins and boxes.
2. Storage locations
While plastic bins and boxes are great for storing clothes, everything can’t be folded down and stored in stackable containers. You’ll need to hang some things to keep the fabric in good condition. Even if you’re tight on closet or wardrobe space, you can always use vertical space to add hanging space. Things like extra hanging rods, hooks with adhesives, and other such accessories can help maximize your closet space for storing your seasonal clothing.
You can also add an extra shelf to your closet or wardrobe to keep items high up. That way you don’t need to tiptoe till the next season. Just make sure not to overcrowd the closet with too much seasonal clothing. That would prevent you from using it for accessing and using the clothes you’ll need for the next few months.
To free up closet and wardrobe space, you can use the storage in your dressing rooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, basement cabinets, and more. You can also use spare luggage and suitcases for storing excess seasonal clothing.
3. Use climate-controlled spaces
Irrespective of where you store your seasonal clothing, make sure to use climate-controlled spaces or turn them into climate-controlled spaces. It’s always recommended to store your seasonal clothes in a cool space that’s not too damp. If you have a decent HVAC system, that does most of the job. You can maintain low temperatures for rooms that are less frequently used.
That’s why basements are usually great candidates since they don’t even require you to spend extra power for keeping them cool. The same holds for places that are usually dark and don’t get a lot of sun throughout the day. However, basements tend to have high humidity. You can fix that by using a dehumidifier. Your storage space also needs to be clean. That factor alone cancels out most attics since they get hot and dusty during the summer.
It’s also important to note that some of your seasonal clothing would be stored for extended periods. For instance, if you don’t live too high up north and have a particularly thick coat or jacket that’s reserved for vacations at places with several feet of snow, you may need to check up on them every few months. Check on your seasonal clothes and clean them when necessary to keep them in the best condition.
4. Don’t hang certain items
Even if you have ample vertical space for hanging all your seasonal clothes, you shouldn’t go overboard and hang everything you have. Certain items of clothing won’t take too kindly to several months of hanging. For instance, delicate knit items like woolen socks, sweaters, and beanies shouldn’t be hung.
That way, your favorite sweaters, and knit items would get stretched and distorted enough to not be usable. Instead, they should be folded away in drawers or plastic storage. If you want to store delicates for a long time, wrap them in acid-free tissue to maintain them in good condition. You may also buy high-quality wooden and padded hangers for hanging the rest of your clothes. This way they get added support and don’t get distorted at the shoulder.
5. Vacuum sealing isn’t ideal for all your clothes
Vacuum sealers have become cheap enough for many households. However, that doesn’t mean you should vacuum seal all your clothes to save space. Certain seasonal clothes with natural fibers aren’t made to be tightly compressed. They need air circulation for breathing and vacuum sealing eliminates that option.
If you have clothes or fabrics that have “puffy” or “fluffy” in the description, they shouldn’t be vacuum sealed. For instance, towels, pillows, winter gloves, comforters, and items made from wool, silk, cashmere, and other delicate fibers should all be free from vacuum sealing. Instead, you need to fold them gently, not too tight, wrap them in acid-free tissue, and put them in wardrobes, closets, drawers, and other such robust storage spaces.
Conclusion
There are many places in your home for storing seasonal clothing. From wardrobes and under-bed storage to large walk-in closets and laundry rooms. If you need to get those places cleaned, you can hire professionals for the job by searching for “cleaning services near me”. Make sure to vacuum seal, choose climate-controlled rooms, and adopt other measures to store your seasonal clothing in the best possible condition.