Storing your clothing in self storage is so much more than just finding somewhere to stuff your clothes while you move house or while you downsize. You want to be able to preserve the condition of your clothes so that when you go to retrieve them once more, they are still as pristine as when you left them. It doesn’t matter whether you’re storing your clothes because of a move or you are decluttering or you simply can’t let go of things from decades ago, you need to make sure that you have planned it appropriately so that you can protect your clothing from any damage.
With proper preparation, you can prevent any issues like mould, pests taking a bite, and fabric deterioration. You want your clothing to stay in the best possible condition in storage, and we’ve got the tips to help you to do just that below.
Start With a Wash or Dry Clean
Before you do anything with your clothes in terms of packing, you need to thoroughly wash or dry clean all of them. You need to make sure that you have removed any accumulated dirt, oils or stains that could become set over time if you don’t treat them early. Even the most minor stains can attract pests such as moths and beetles, and that can damage the fabric irreparably. Separate all your clothing items by colour or fabric type to avoid any colour bleeding or damage, and use a gentle and cold setting on your cycle. Don’t forget to wash anything delicate and use a mesh laundry bag to help. There are certain dry cleaning companies that can make sure that any stains or issues are completely eliminated, so if you have dry clean only clothing, start with them.
Make Sure That Your Clothes Are Completely Dry
After you have washed or dry cleaned your clothing, you need to make sure that everything is completely dry and not even a little bit damp before you pack them for storage. Any damp fabric can quickly develop mould and mildew, and the last thing that you want is to go back to your clothing to find that mildew has spread to other items that were actually dry. If you’re in an environment with a fluctuating humidity level, then you need to consider this very carefully.air drying clothing completely or using a drying rack can help and you can tumble dryer where possible.
Use The Right Storage Containers
You should always choose breathable storage containers if you are storing clothing. This can be cardboard boxes or plastic bins with the right ventilation holes. Try not to store your clothing in plastic because they can trap moisture and that can promote that mould growth that we’re trying to avoid. Always use acid free tissue paper if you have valuable clothing or delicates so that you can wrap every garment individually and prevent any creasing while protecting the fabrics. Even self storage that has temperature control can still end up with condensation in plastic bags, so make sure that you are folding your clothing and storing them in boxes where condensation doesn’t build up as much.
Always Label Everything
You can organise your clothing by type, by frequency of use, and even by season if you want to, but you need to make sure that everything is clearly labelled. The last thing you want to have to do is to go into your storage container to get something, only to not be able to find what you want because it wasn’t appropriately labelled in the first place. It’s a great way to be able to rotate your seasonal wardrobes without disturbing everything else, especially if you do decide to store your clothing by season.
Hang The Clothes Properly
It’s all well and good to fold things and shove it in a box if you want to, but that may lead to some creases over time. For clothing that is best stored on hangers, make sure that you have padded non-slip hangers to maintain their shape. Wire hangers and even plastic hangers have the potential to leave marks on your clothing. You can then use cotton garment bags to protect them from dust or light exposure, and that still allows them to breathe and stay fresh. The best part is that you probably won’t have to iron something that’s been hanging for a while.
Remove The Risk of Pests
It doesn’t matter how secure the facility is that you choose, pests can and are still a concern. To prevent insects from getting to your clothing and biting through it, you see the balls or lavender sachets. You can even store boxes of clothes with silica gel packets so that these can deter moths and other pests without any damaging residue or odour being left on your clothing.
Inspect Your Storage Unit Regularly
Every now and then you should check on your stored clothing to make sure that they are in the best possible condition. If possible, air out any boxes or containers and take a look for any signs of pests, damage or moisture growth. If this is the case, immediately clean those clothes if they can be salvaged and then replace your storage containers.
Don’t Overpack
If you want to store your clothing safely while preserving them, then it may not be a good idea to stuff everything in. It can be very tempting to maximise space by over packing all of your boxes, but it does lead to creases and permanent fabric damage.If you pack your clothes loosely, you can allow air circulation and minimise that compression that can cause damage. Don’t stack heavy items of clothing on top of each other either, because you don’t want to crush anything delicate.
Don’t Forget Insurance
Lastly, a good way to safely store and preserve your clothing and self storage is to make sure that you have insurance. Ensuring your stored clothing against events such as theft, fire or water damage is always a smart choice. Contact Contain It now to get your quote.