How to Store Sweaters and Other Winter Clothing

I don’t know about you, but I love having only what I need in my closet.  I like to store the off-season stuff, one to keep it from getting moth ridden and dusty from want of use, and two, because I don’t want to have to flip through it to get to the stuff that I am actually going to wear.  So, now that the weather has warmed up for good, it’s time to store all of those sweaters and other winter clothing.

I always wash everything before I store it, that way, when I pull it out on the first cool, crisp fall day, I can just put it right on.  Washing also helps kill any insects that might have taken up residence in your sweaters.  Since I typically store my winter wear at the top of my closet, I just use plastic bins.  I’m not a fan of moth balls–they smell gross and have waaay too many warnings on the back for me to feel comfortable with, so I typically toss some cedar disks in with my clothes to deter critters from eating them up over the summer.

In years past, when I had more sweaters {my wardrobe has gotten A LOT simpler over the years} I used space saver bags.  I loved them because I could suck out all of the air {which is very therapeutic, might I add} and they would be sealed off from dust and bugs and fit neatly on the top shelf of the closet.

The key with sweaters is to either fold them in a tote or lay them flat in space saver bags–hanging them will stretch them out and come next winter, you’ll have to drag the sleeves around town like a sad little ape.

Whatever method you choose, make sure that it is clean, cool, dark and dry.  If you can check off everything on that list, your clothes will store better and last much longer in the long run–after all, the goal is for the clothes to go out of style long before you actually wear them out.

Do you store your winter clothing?  How do you do it?

~Mavis