How to Store Winter Clothes the Right Way
Winter coats, sweaters, and accessories can become damaged if they aren't properly cared for. However, storing winter clothes can be challenging if you have not learned the best strategies or have limited closet space.
Yet, once you understand the best way to store winter clothing, you can preserve an items’ quality and avoid damage. In the long run, this extra effort is worth it to save money and time while shopping next year.
Here are some winter clothes storage tips from the experts at Stop & Stor to help you make the most of your cold-weather fashion investments.
Decluttering Before Storage
The end of the winter season is a perfect time to go through your winter wardrobe to assess what you want to keep or get rid of. The decluttering process allows you to think sustainably about your wardrobe and eliminate excess clutter from your closets.
For items that you didn’t use all winter, consider selling, donating, or recycling them. You may be able to repurpose damaged items to reuse for cleaning or packing materials. Items in good condition can be taken to a thrift shop or listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, or another online platform.
Preparing Winter Clothes and Gear for Storage
Whether you plan to store winter clothes in a closet or in a professional storage facility, it’s important to put some thought and care into preparing them first.
Before storage, clean all of your winterwear, including coats, scarves, and gloves. Remove stains and odors to prevent pest activity. Also, avoid using starch and fabric softeners because they can attract moths. Dress coats may need to go to the dry cleaner, while wool scarves are best hand-washed.
Once clean, ensure all items are completely dry before storage to prevent mold and mildew. As you decide how to store away winter clothes, make the necessary repairs before putting them away. Repairs may involve mending rips, replacing buttons, de-pilling sweaters, and polishing boots.
Storage Tips for Common Winter Items
The best protocols for winter clothes storage vary based on the items you need to store. Here are some guidance for different winter items you have.
How to Store Winter Jackets
Avoid storing coats in vacuum-sealed bags or bins. The best way to store winter coats is to hang them to retain their shape without creases and protect them from dust with a garment bag.
How to Store Sweaters
For your winter sweaters, neatly fold and stack them rather than hanging them. For added protection, you can use vacuum storage bags, empty luggage, or old comforter bags.
Wrap delicate or vintage items in acid-free tissue paper. Label your bins so you remember what’s inside, and don’t overpack containers to prevent fabric damage and creases.
Accessories and Winter Hat Storage Ideas
Stack and place winter hats in a plastic bin or sealed container to protect them from mold and dust. Over-the-door organizers are helpful to organize scarves, and ones with pockets are perfect for mittens and gloves.
Boot shapers help winter boots maintain their shape in the off-season. You can store winter footwear in plastic bins with tissue paper for padding.
Choosing the Right Storage Solutions
Part of deciding how to store clothes for the winter involves choosing the right solutions for the items you own.
Here are some general tips to guide you:
- Use vacuum-sealed bags and plastic bins for compact, pest-proof storage
- Hang items that need to retain their shape in garment bags
- Label all bins and bags for easy access next winter
- Add pest deterrents like lavender sachets, cedar blocks, and desiccant packs
Where to Store Winter Clothes and Gear
When assessing your home for how to store winter clothes, choose cool, dry, and dark areas, such as closets and under the bed. Due to fluctuating temperatures, avoid attics, garages, basements, and sheds.
Consider clever storage hacks like storing clothes in luggage or under-bed bins. Clear bins can help you quickly see the contents without opening them up.
If you don’t have ample space in your home for storing winter clothes, offsite storage is available at our many New York locations. For valuable wardrobe collections, we offer climate-controlled storage with consistent temperature and humidity levels.
Maintenance Tips During Storage
While your winter clothes are in storage, check bins periodically for evidence of pests or moisture. Also, refresh the cedar and lavender sachets you placed periodically.
We hope you’ve found this discussion of how to store winter clothes helpful and are now prepared to store your winterwear correctly when springtime arrives. If you have other questions about how to store winter clothes in our facilities, please contact us online or call 718-698-8000.
We hope you’ve found these tips for how to store winter clothes and gear helpful and are now inspired to declutter your closet! To keep your winter items in great condition while making room for your spring and summer clothing and gear, now is a great time to look into a climate-controlled storage unit from Stop & Stor. Established in 1980, Stop & Stor is a family owned and operated business that has become New York’s Self Storage Leader by offering cutting-edge facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
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