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Short term storage units are great for a lot of things, including the storage of seasonal outfits or baby clothes your little one can’t wear anymore. To maintain the quality of your garments, however, it’s important to know how to store them right.
Whether you’re a shopaholic who’s looking to make more room in your closet or just someone who wants to store away clothes temporarily because you’re moving or doing some cleaning, below we share expert tips on clothing storage that can help you preserve their condition.
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Smart Storage Tips: How to Store Clothes in Short Term Storage Units
1. Wash the clothes before storing them
Even if you’re not planning on storing your clothes for a long time, it’s better to have your garments properly washed and dried. Residue from sweat, perfumes, and deodorants may settle into the fabric, causing tough stains and foul smells.
Also, don’t forget to thoroughly dry your clean clothes before putting them in short term storage units. Clothes that are even slightly wet can encourage the growth of mould or mildew.
2. Get the right storage supplies
Some clothing pieces, especially ones for winter, can get pretty heavy. Instead of using flimsy cardboard boxes, search your home for unused plastic storage containers.
If you’re concerned about moisture, you may even store the clothes first in a cotton bag (there are garment bags for that, too) before placing them in the storage container.
You might also want to find out if the storage facility is humid. Regardless if it is or isn’t, it’s still a good idea to use moisture absorbers such as silica gel packets to prevent moisture build-up.
3. Choose which to hang or fold
Items that are better off folded include stretchable clothes, t-shirts, sweaters, and denim or khaki pants. Clothes that should be hung are the pieces that are prone to getting wrinkled (e.g. silk, lace, satin) and dresses, blazers, blouses, and dress pants.
Clothes made from heavy material should also be folded, as well as garments that have heavy beads or embellishments.
4. Consider units with climate control
If you’re not planning on keeping your clothes in the storage units for long, this is optional.
Climate-controlled storage is great for a lot of things. Your items are protected from extreme temperature, there is good ventilation, and you may even get a special humidity control feature.
Again, you probably won’t need this if you’re planning on storing your clothes for a couple of weeks. On the other hand, if your storage needs are for a longer period, then getting a unit with climate control is best.
5. Be careful when vacuum-sealing
This is another factor that’s highly dependent on the length of time you’re storing your items.
Storing your clothes in an air-tight plastic bag may trap the moisture inside and cause mildew. Another potential issue that may arise from vacuum-sealing is that your clothes might dry out over time, too.
If you’re sure about storing your clothes temporarily, vacuum sealing is an option. Otherwise, stick to garment bags or other containers that let your clothes breathe.
Don’t risk ruining your clothes in short term storage units
Even with climate control, humidity control, and other fancy features that are designed to protect your belongings, it’s highly recommended that you regularly pay a visit to your short term storage units to check the state of your clothes. If you follow the tips shared on this post, however, there should be minimal chance of your clothes getting ruined during storage.