Every year it happens way too fast. Summer is suddenly ending, September is upon us and it is time to get ready for fall and winter. In addition to the logistical headaches that always come from back-to-school and returning to work from vacation, swapping out you and your family’s summer clothing for fall and winter clothing is always a big project. It’s not something you should do without planning. Your summer clothes may be in storage for at least six months and you want to make sure that they’re in excellent condition when they come out of winter storage. At A.B. Richards, we know how difficult storage can be and we can make it easier with our portable storage containers. We also want to give you some ideas about how to store your seasonal clothes to make the process easier when it’s time to unpack them.
Wash Your Clothes Before Putting Them into Storage Containers
The first thing you should do before putting any clothing into winter storage is washing them. There are many reasons why this is an essential step. Clothing stains may not always be immediately apparent, according to the HGTV website. But they can appear after being in storage for several months. Odors may also become more obvious as time goes by and can set into clothing. Body oils, which cause the odor can also attract moths to your clothing.
If you dry clean your clothes, you should remove them from any plastic bags that come back from the cleaners because they can trap moisture and cause mildew. Cotton garment bags are better because they protect clothes from dust, according to HGTV.
Keeping Clothes Safe from Moths and Bugs
Protecting your clothing from moths, bugs and mold are obviously very important. Your first thought might be to use mothballs, but according to the Huffington Post, moth balls are actually bad for storage. They cite reports about chemicals that are used in mothballs being restricted in Europe, not to mention the terrible smell. HGTV says mothballs should only be used in sealed containers.
Alternatives to mothballs include using cedar, lavender sachets or lemon peel rinds, all of which will keep clothing dry and provide a more pleasant scent. Huffington does warn that cedar can sometimes make things too dry because it pulls oils out of fabrics, making them brittle.
Packing Seasonal Clothing
Before putting your clothing away, save yourself some work on the other end by sorting out what you’re going to keep and what you’re going to throw out. The House Cleaning Central website suggests, throwing out or donating any summer clothes you didn’t wear during the season. You should also sort clothing by category, so you know where everything is.
There are plenty of ways to store clothes and you should use a variety of containers. Clear plastic containers with lids are ideal, according to House Cleaning Central, but you should clean them with disinfectant first. You should also wash fabric storage bags and make sure they’re dried thoroughly before they used, to protect from mold and mildew. Vacuum storage bags can give you extra space because they compress clothing. HGTV suggests avoiding cardboard boxes which attract pests and insects.
A.B. Richards Will Take Care of All Your Storage Needs
Whatever you use to store your summer clothes, you won’t be organized if you don’t have enough storage space. A.B. Richards can help. Our 20ft storage containers are great for residential use and can be delivered in more restricted spaces. We also rent storage units for work sites. We’ll deliver the containers to you and we’ll also pick them up. Contact A.B. Richards today.