Storing Your Winter Wardrobe

Southern California surprised its residents this year with an uncharacteristically chilly winter! Lower temperatures paired with increased rain and snowfall have allowed locals to enjoy the coveted sweater weather to the fullest. Now, the year has turned the corner into February, charging full speed ahead towards spring and warmer temperatures. Soon enough, bulky sweaters, long coats, and heavy boots will be swapped out for short sleeves, sandals, and sun hats. Instead of crumpling sweaters in a box or constantly pushing coats aside, try a few new seasonal clothing storage practices to properly store your winter wardrobe. Follow these guidelines to have fresh cold weather clothes ready to wear come next Autumn.

Vacuum seal bags can help save space by condensing bulky items.

Gather

Before getting started on wardrobe organization, gather a few tools to help to keep your clothes safe all year long. Space saver items such as vacuum seal bags, garment bags, and plastic bins allow for maximized storage in minimized space. Special, vintage clothing and delicate items may require protective storage such as acid free tissue paper and archival boxes to remain in top condition. Shoe shapers and boot shapers protect your cold weather footwear from losing their structure and quality. Lavender sachets and cedar chips act as great alternatives to mothballs as pest deterrents. Dryer sheets also offer dual benefits by repelling certain pests and leaving your clothes with a fresh scent. Additionally, charcoal bags and desiccant packs absorb moisture, safeguarding your garments from mildew.

Donation box full of winter sweaters to clear space for wardrobe organization — Donating clothing can clear up space for wardrobe items that will be worn next year.

Eliminate

Once your tools and materials have been gathered, the organization begins! Step one is, of course, to purge. As you prepare items for storage, take a hard look at your winter pieces to decide which ones you are ready to let go of. Send anything that did not get worn this season to the donate pile right away. Next, see if there are pieces that you simply do not enjoy wearing anymore. Try taking the KonMari approach and ask yourself if the item brings you joy anymore. If not, perhaps it is time to gratefully let it go. Additionally, garments that are worn out beyond repair or no longer fit may be ready to go. This is especially helpful to consider for any children’s clothing. Determine whether the items will still fit next winter as your child grows, and if not add them to the give away pile. For any clothes that are still in good condition, be sure to donate them to give the garments a second life. For worn out pieces that have seen their time, check out any local garment recycling programs to keep textiles out of the landfills!

Cleaning your winter clothing before storing them can keep fabrics fresh and ready to worn right away next year.

Clean & Repair

Now that your items are consolidated to those you will use next year, it’s time to clean them up. When storing clothing for extended periods, always store them in their best condition. First, take care of stains and odors by washing all clothes then cleaning and polishing shoes. Take items to the dry cleaner as needed, hand wash scarves and gloves, and throw the rest in the washing machine. Make sure to use regular detergent for clothing, steering clear of softeners, starches, and bleach which may attract unwanted pests to nibble on your textiles. Once clean, allow all items to dry out completely. This step is very important, as any small amount of leftover moisture can produce mildew and stink up or even damage your clothing. For dry cleaned clothes, make sure to remove them from their plastic covering and allow them to air out, letting the strong fragrances dissipate before boxing them away.

In addition to cleaning, comb through your winter clothing for needed repairs. If there are loose or missing buttons, fasten them back on to keep them secure. Stitch up snags and tears to make sure that the damage does not worsen over the summer. Contrary to popular thought, pilling does not mean the end of life for clothing items. In fact there are around the home tools you can use to d e -pill your own sweaters, such as fine tooth combs, pumice stones, and fruit zesters. For a more accurate tool, you can also purchase an electric fabric shaver that gently removes pills without risking damage to the garment.

Choosing which clothing to hang and fold is as simple as this: if it will wrinkle, hang it and if it will stretch, fold it.

Organize

With your clothes ready to be put away, the next step is to find the winter storage methods that work best for your space. You may be asking yourself the age-old question: “Do I hang or fold my items?” We have the answer! The best rule of thumb is if it will wrinkle, hang it and if it will stretch or lose shape, fold it. If you have the closet space, hang your easily wrinkled items and coats in the very back of your closet. Keep your items protected by storing them in a garment bag with pest deterrents. Next, move on to your foldable items. Purchase plastic bins with lids and avoid cardboard boxes. The glue in cardboard attracts pests and the material is susceptible to moisture changes. An extra space saving tip is to use luggage to store seasonal items, if you do not travel often! Separate bulky, sturdy items from smaller and delicate pieces. Bulky items such as thick knits, snow pants, and heavy fabrics can be vacuum sealed and stored at the bottom of the bins. Take caution, however, as handmade, loose knit or vintage clothing can be permanently damaged by vacuum sealing. Fold your delicate items, wrap them in acid free tissue paper to protect from color transfer and snagging, then place them on top of the heavy knits. Never overstuff the bins as this can compress and damage clothing. Keep in mind that down or other feather stuffed items should never be vacuum sealed. For special vintage or handmade items, you may consider investing in an archival box as this breathable container is designed to keep higher maintenance clothing intact. Lastly, grab your freshly cleaned boots and other cold weather shoes. Stuff with tissue paper or use shapers to give extra structure to the shoes while they are put away. Tuck them in a bin, wrapping with tissue paper as needed to avoid scuffing.

Use bins that fit under your bed to keep storage items out of the way.

Store

With everything packed up appropriately, it’s time to choose a storage location. There are a few key rules to follow when storing clothing. Follow the C-C-D-D rule for seasonal clothing storage: choose a location that is clean, cool, dry, and dark. In general, it is not advised to store clothing in garages, basements, and attics unless you can ensure that the climate of these locations is stable. Clothing should be stored in a temperature and humidity stable environment away from sunlight to protect from mildew, pests, and fading. Closet shelves and spare bedrooms are perfect places to store your items safely. For additional space saving, choose vertical storage solutions or invest in wall mounted shelves and drawers. You can also purchase bins that will slide under the bed, fully out of the way. If you want to splurge on a visually appealing storage solution, consider a storage bed frame for a minimalist aesthetic, excellent organization, and easy access. If you have the funds as well as additional items that need to be stored, a public storage unit is a great protected environment for your wardrobe.

Alternatively, you can keep your winter clothes accessible year round! As Marie Kondo suggests, one helpful method of wardrobe organization is by not putting them away but putting them “up.” Fold up your winter clothes and store them in open, breathable bins to keep the textiles intact. Label the bins with the contents and place them on the highest shelf of the closet. Then, bring down your spring wardrobe into immediate reach. As the seasons change, having your seasonal clothing accessible makes changing the wardrobe a quick and simple process.

As we move past the peak of winter and look forward to warm, sunny days our wardrobe will change to match the season. Having our cold weather clothes out of the way can help our space feel more comfortable and organized while making outfit changes easier. Keep these helpful winter storage tips in mind as you start packing away your coats and sweaters for a smooth and easy organization process!