Life Hack: How to store your clothes correctly in autumn and winter
When it comes to some seasonal clothes, how you store them is important
With the seasons changing many of us are changing over our wardrobes too, putting our woolly jumpers and cosy cardigans back into circulation. When it comes to some seasonal clothes, how you store them is important, whether they are being returned to the wardrobe or packed away into hibernation.
Before storing anything, make sure you wash the clothes to be stored, even if they seem clean. Pests like moths are attracted to odours in clothing so this will help to prevent any nasty surprises when reaching for the clothes again in a few months. Any stains that are allowed to set in over a few months may also be more difficult or impossible to remove when you want to wear the item again.
One option to store off-season clothes without taking up too much space is to vacuum-pack them. The airtight bag will shrink the clothes down while also protecting clothes from dust, moths, and more. Make sure you check on the bags from time to time, however, as the seals can be unreliable so another vacuuming might be needed. Pop in some silica tablets to prevent excess moisture from gathering inside the bag. While this is a handy storage solution, it may not be suitable for delicate fabrics like light summer dresses.
For those items that cannot be vacuum-packed, a cloth storage bag will substitute. A 100% cotton bag will allow the fabric hanging inside to breathe while stored. To prevent the fabric from yellowing, wrap the clothing in tissue paper before covering it with the bag.
That floppy beach hat has probably had its time in the sun so you can retire it for the winter. Avoid squashing the hat when storing it by stuffing the crown with newspaper or tissue paper
Jumpers and cardigans are among our most-reached-for winter clothes, but woollen clothes can become misshapen if stored incorrectly. As a rule of thumb, never put your woollen jumpers on a hanger as the weight of the fabric will cause them to pull down, stretching out of shape. This can impact even a light jumper, so opt to fold your clothes when possible.
In a tight space, there are some ways to maximise potential storage. one way is to use your suitcase to store those off-season garments. As suitcases take up a lot of space, this will potentially half the space you are using to store unused items. Line it with tissue paper before adding your clothes and pop in some cedar balls to repel moths.
