How to Store Winter ClothesWhen bringing out fall and winter clothes, storing your summer wardrobe correctly is essential. Check out the 4 Awesome Tips on How to Store Summer Clothes we put together for easy transitions. Correct cleaning and storage, especially of summer fabrics, will save you money and time, so you don’t have to search for a bathing suit next swimming season only to find it stretched out and unwearable.
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Summer clothes are usually made from lightweight, sheer, and more delicate fabrics. Many fabrics wrinkle easily, but there are ways to store your summer clothes (even your summer whites) so they’ll be ready to wear when needed. (We’ll even walk you through knowing when to toss summer clothes that won’t make it to the next hot season.)
1/ Organize the summer clothes.
Begin by sorting summer clothes into categories and putting them in piles. Your piles can be divided into “keep,” “fix,” “donate,” and “toss out.” At times, it’s tough to figure out what goes in which pile. Be honest—if you didn’t wear the item of clothing or accessories this past season, why would you wear it next summer? Ask yourself whether you’re willing to spend time and money on fixing a summer item that is ripped or otherwise unwearable as-is.
2/ Properly Wash Your Summer Clothes
For the clothes you plan to keep until next year, carefully inspect each piece to ensure it is clean and free of typical summer stains, such as grass or flower pollen. All clothing should be washed or dry cleaned before storing. Minor stains that are not visible could become challenging to remove after a winter in storage. Stains may also attract bugs that can eat through and ruin your clothing.1 Here are the correct ways to clean and handle typical hot weather fabrics.
Caution
Don’t use starch or sizing on summer items that are being stored, such as cotton or linen clothing. Starch and sizing can attract insects that damage clothes.
Cotton
Cotton is soft, thin, and breathable, which means heat quickly escapes your body, so you stay cooler. Cotton wrinkles easily, while cotton polyester blends wrinkles much less. Cotton is also susceptible to sweat stains on the armpits and collar, especially in light colours. Here are tips to clean and store cotton summer clothing:
- Use cold water to prevent shrinkage.
- For white clothes, always read the label to see if you can add chlorine bleach to whiten the item or if you should stick to oxygen bleach for brightening.
- Use low heat, and don’t dry cotton garments at high heat in the dryer to avoid shrinkage.
- Hang cotton garments to reduce wrinkles.
Linen
Linen is a natural fabric that is also breathable and perfect for hot weather. It’s lightweight, loosely woven, and prone to severe wrinkling. You may or may not prefer the wrinkled linen look. If you choose the smooth, unwrinkled look, you may want to dry-clean the item before storing it for the year. A few things to note about cleaning and storing:g linen clothing
- It is important to remember that linen garments tend to absorb a lot of water during the wash cycle. To prevent other clothes from becoming moist, it is advisable to dry linen items separately.
- If you prefer to iron your linen before storing it, turn it inside out and use a steam setting. This will prevent any damage to the material.
- It is recommended that linen clothing be stored in a plastic container to keep it free from bugs and moisture. Additionally, store the container in a cool and dry place to ensure the longevity of your linen garments.
3/ Store Summer Clothes
With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about storing your summer clothes. By properly organising and storing your seasonal wardrobe and following the 4 Awesome Tips on How to Store Summer Clothes, you can help ensure that your clothes stay in good condition and are ready to wear when the next summer season rolls around. So, why not take a few minutes today to get started on this crucial task? Your future self will thank you!
Now that you’ve cleaned and preserved summer clothing, the next step is to store it correctly. You’ll need the right supplies, such as hangers, storage bags, and storage containers. To declutter your wardrobe, follow these 4 Awesome Tips on How to Store Summer Clothes.
Best Hangers
Select sturdy hangers that won’t rust or discolour fabrics. (That means avoiding the thin wire hangers provided by cleaners.) Here are tips for using the best hangers for various garments, whatever seasonal clothing you’re storing:
- Hang structured items like jackets on shaped hangers to support the shoulders.
- Hang skirts and pants by the waistbands on skirt hangers to avoid creases.
- Hang silky fabrics on padded or flocked hangers to prevent them from slipping off during storage.
4/ Garments Hanging Storage Bags
Fabric hanging bags are superior to plastic bags because they allow air to circulate and prevent moisture buildup and damage. If you wish to store items in fabric storage bags, it is recommended that you first put them through a quick wash cycle to remove dust or mould spores.
Alternatively, you can use a 100% cotton sheet or pillowcase to cover your summer clothes on hangers, cutting a small opening for the hangers to pass through. This simple measure will protect your clothes from dust and allow them to breathe in storage.
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Cardboard and Plastic Storage Containers
When storing summer clothes, it’s best to roll them rather than fold them. This technique prevents hard creases from forming, which can be challenging to remove. If you have summer knits, you can try rolling them, but you could also fold them. Hanging them in a garment bag is not recommended.
Using the right storage boxes can help preserve your summer wardrobe. Acid-free cardboard boxes are the best option for storing summer clothing. Avoid using boxes from grocery or liquor stores, as they are made from wood pulp that can leach acids. These acids can cause yellowing and stains on clothes. Additionally, the glue used to hold these boxes together can attract insects.
When choosing plastic containers for storage, look for those made of cast polypropylene, as this is a safer material for clothing storage. You can identify these containers by looking for the #5 within the recycling triangle on the bottom of the container or the letters PP. Clean the inside of the bin with a disinfectant cleaner before use. To keep fragile items from touching the plastic container, line the container with a clean 100 per cent cotton sheet or acid-free tissue paper.
Following the 4 Awesome Tips on How to Store Summer Clothes will give you a stress-free transition from summer to winter.