How to Store Clothes Long Term: 3 Questions to Get You Started

When you ask yourself how to store clothes long term, the actual amount of time can vary significantly. So, according to the circumstances, the way of storing  can vary, too.

Do You Need It at All?

You may have so-called ‘aspirational’ clothes. A dress that is too small for you now, but that you want to wear after losing a little weight. So, you put this dress in a wardrobe and wait. Our advice here is: throw it away! Or give it away, at least. This is more of an upsetting factor than a motivational one. Besides, when you achieve your goal (and you certainly will!), there is almost no chance you will fancy wearing old clothes. The other type of ‘aspirational’ clothes is, for example, sports clothes for those, who do not really do any sports, but want to start any time soon. Getting rid of such items is a part of decluttering , which is very important if you want to keep your things (the ones you do need) in order.

Selecting Options

After decluttering  your clothes carefully, you will still have at least two types left: those you wear daily and those you want to store long term. Let’s start with the most obvious option. Select clothes you are not going to wear this season. While separating summer from winter, spring and autumn, don’t forget that you might still need a jacket in summer and a couple of T-shirts in winter.

Another storing solution is a capsule wardrobe,  which is getting extremely popular these days. The general idea is to pick a limited number of items that, combined differently, will make your outfit. Those items both include clothes and accessories. Your aim is to look great every day without buying new clothes. So, unless you decide to get rid of items not included in your capsule wardrobe, you will need to store them for the future.

Store Wisely

Remember that chests of drawers are only good for the things you wear. You take something from your drawer, wear it, wash and iron it, and then you put it back into the drawer. This is not a good idea on how to store clothes long term. The best thing you can do for your jackets, furs, coats, dresses, suits and all the like is to put them on a hanger in a garment cover. Other items, like sweaters and jeans, may be kept in vacuum storage bags. Do not put a lot in one bag, because you will not need everything at once. Some clothes should be kept in separate containers that fit your closet shelves ideally. Most importantly, keep the clothes you stored long term out of sight. Sure, the weather may chance unexpectedly, or something special may come up, so the clothes should still be accessible.

Finally, revise your wardrobe once in a while. Remember, if you have not worn something for a year, there is a great chance you will never wear it again. And, if the wardrobe seems to small even after decluttering, here are some ideas on how you can give it a boost.