Seasonal Clothing Storage Tips to Make More Room at Home

Many Americans still won’t be returning to offices this fall, which means business attire remains collecting dust in the closet. Every member of your household will be spending more time at home this fall and winter, which raises the importance of utilizing your spaces at home in the most effective ways. California may not experience as drastic of seasonal weather changes as Security Public Storage locations in other parts of the country, but downsizing and organizing your wardrobe and switching out summer for winter clothing can help you make more room at home.

Tips for Storing Seasonal Clothing

It may be tempting to throw seasonal clothing in a cardboard box and hide it away in the garage or the attic. Resist the temptation and take the extra steps to properly store your seasonal clothing, giving them the best chance at a long life both in your closet and on your shoulders.

Sort — Before you begin the cleaning, packing and storing process, sorting through your wardrobe and identifying items to donate or get rid of will prevent headaches down the road. Remove clothing that doesn’t fit, items that are out of fashion and damaged clothing. Separate items into groups – donate, wear, store, damaged. This will allow you to make room in your drawers and closet for the clothing you will actually wear and remove clutter before moving to storage.

Wash — All seasonal clothing heading to storage needs to be properly washed and folded before being packed away. Be sure to treat stains on items that will be stored in order to prevent further discoloration. Clean clothes are less likely to attract pests, such as moths – the number one enemy of your favorite blouse. Ensure all clothing is completely dry before storage as moisture and lack of airflow lead to mold and mildew.

Package — Your clothing needs to breathe. Cardboard boxes will eventually fall apart and clothes stored in them for long periods of time may develop white or yellow stains. Cardboard is also susceptible to pest infiltration. Clear plastic storage containers help protect against pests. If you use plastic containers, don’t overstuff them as this causes wrinkling and hard-to-remove creases. Loosely storing clothing in plastic containers allows air to circulate. The best clothing storage containers are made from cotton or linen due to their breathability.

Pretreat — Perfume, perspiration and body oils attract insects, including moths to your clothes. Take extra precaution by adding lavender sachets to your seasonal clothing. Lavender smells wonderful to us, but moths hate it. Cedar blocks and cedar-lined chests also offer protection from moths munching holes in your clothes. Avoid mothballs as they are toxic not only to moths but to humans and pets, too.

Store — Seasonal clothing should be stored in a clean, cool, dark and dry place. Darkness helps prevent fading and will keep the clothing and area cool. The storage area should be dry in order to prevent mildew and insects from infiltrating. Avoid storing clothing near heating sources and other areas that may be exposed to heat.

Where to Store Seasonal Clothes

We talked about the importance of storing your seasonal clothing in a cool, dark, dry and clean place, but where exactly can you find those spaces? We recommend climate-controlled storage units from SPS as the optimal environment for your seasonal clothing, but there are places in the home you can also use. Organizing your spaces helps increase the amount of usable real estate within the home for storage.

Underbed storage offers a great space for your seasonal clothing storage. Whether you go with containers underneath the bed or a bed frame with built-in drawers, this place typically stays cool and dry throughout the year.

Suitcases can be used for more than travel. Rather than leaving suitcases empty, use this space to store seasonal clothing. With fewer people traveling because of the pandemic, this leaves plenty of suitcases going unused. Repurpose suitcases for seasonal clothing storage.

Large walk-in closets and dressing rooms offer ideal clothing storage and will be in close proximity when you need to quickly access your bathing suits for an impromptu hot tub hang out with the neighbors. Additional shelving and hanging rods can be added to closets of all sizes to increase the usable space.

Clothing should be stored in a climate-controlled area in order to keep them well-preserved. Avoid storing clothing in your basement if it’s damp and don’t keep them close to the furnace. Your garage should also be avoided unless it is climate-controlled. Attics can be hot and dusty, which also rules them out for seasonal clothing storage.

Use a Storage Unit as an Extended Closet

Rotating out your seasonal clothing helps maintain organization and space in your closet. If you have an extensive wardrobe or multiple people living in your household, a storage unit may be the answer to finding more usable space in your home. Storage units at SPS start at 5’ x 5’ and increase in size from there. Use as much or as little area you need in a storage unit while creating more space in your home.

Climate-controlled storage units offer the ideal environment for seasonal clothing storage. We maintain our climate-controlled storage units within a set temperature range in order to create a consistent environment for your belongings. These types of units meet all of the pillars of an ideal clothing storage space. They are clean, dark, dry and cool. Environment plays a large role in maintaining the integrity of your clothing and extending their lifespan.

Climate-controlled units are also typically located in an interior location at the storage facility, which helps prevent pests from entering the unit. Insects and rodents can cause damage to clothing, which makes pest prevention important in seasonal clothing storage.

SPS has self-storage locations all across the West Coast and in the Washington DC metro area. Many of our locations include climate-controlled storage units in addition to traditional spaces. Renting a storage unit to use as an extended closet helps you make room at home, which is more important than ever with people staying home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Find a location near you and reclaim space in your closet today!