In an ideal situation, you will keep your clothes in a vacuum with no bacteria or insects, and your clothes will last forever. But this is not possible (at least not at home) for you and me. So what do I do to keep my favorite clothes – my wedding dress, those silk blouses, and pashmina shawls from self-destructing in the wardrobe?
Yes, there are tips for storing them properly, which almost recreates an ideal situation – well, close enough.
Storing your clothes to last
Only a small percent of people have a wardrobe like this either.
For the rest of us, we need organisation tips on how to store clothes, I think.
Small space plus disorganization makes Disaster.
Renovating a small cramped wardrobe to one of Hollywood proportions maybe what you dream of but it may not be possible in real life. We all need to get our clothes in place (neat inside a small and cramped wardrobe). Below given are some tips and things you can buy to increase the space inside your wardrobe.
Storage hacks
Get rid of unworn clothes
This is the number one tip. When you have too many clothes in your wardrobe, a lot of them will be things you may never ever wear. It is said that we only wear 20% of our clothes all the time – 80% we never or rarely ever wear.
So practice the 80-20 rule. Get rid of that unused 80% and you now have 20% clothes stored in your 100% wardrobe.
Yes, this is definitely the most important tip of all. You have all the space you always wanted.
Keep everything in its place
A place for everything and everything in its place. There is a beauty in keeping things this way. Designate a place for everything and remember to keep things there, and there alone. Deciding this itself will clear the morning fog inside our brains when looking inside a wardrobe for something to wear.
Get storage boxes
Separate clothes into two piles – which you use daily and which you use not so frequently. You can store non-frequently used clothing inside storage boxes and stack them on the top part of the wardrobe – do not forget to label and write what is inside. If you label them they will be easy to find later.
You can also use stack-able storage boxes to keep small things and similar things tidy. These can be stacked inside the wardrobe.
If you are really short of space, use big storage boxes for storage and store them under the bed.
Fix rails for hanging clothes
Pro tip I have read: Do not hang t-shirts or sweaters for long – the knit fabric will stretch out of shape
Get a variety of nice hangers
You can use hanger organizers for more space and to be able to see the clothes properly.
Get separate hangers with slots for scarves – you can hang multiple scarves this way.
Layering hangers can be used for hanging folded clothes like pants scarves etc vertically.
You can hang 4-5 pants or jeans on this single hanger. Increases closet space by lots. Just make sure that the railing you hang it is strong enough.
Get hanging storage shelves
The best way to increase your storage space is to add extra storage inside that will make use of wasted space inside. Shelf dividers can do it as well as prevent the mess of all the clothing mixed up.
If you cannot install shelf dividers inside, hanging storage shelves are the next best thing. They use up the unused vertical space and creates more shelf space. Best thing is you can segregate and store. and everything is open unlike boxes.
You can use hanging organizers with one or two shelves which you can use to store anything from small face towels to underwear. Buy ones with strong wooden top and base so that they hold everything steady. You can fold and arrange clothes neatly inside the shelves.
Or buy the hanging pocket storage that you can hang inside the wardrobe with the help of hangers. This is best to store small things like underwear, gloves, small towels etc. If you get more than one, they hang close to each without taking up much space inside the wardrobe.
Use drawer separators
The mess is usually in the drawers – you try to stack your things inside a drawer and after one or two days, and a frantic search inside and everything is a mess again.
You should use separators wherever you can, inside a drawer, unless you have cubbies and partitions built-in inside the drawer already.
You get these plastic separators that you can insert inside your small drawer and store umpteen number of underwear. From this mess –
to this.
Another helpful thing is a storage box with separators- I find these very useful to separately store socks, underwear, scarves etc. You can stack them one on top of the other and contain the mess. The genie in a bottle?
Do not forget the door back for storage
Usually the back of the wardrobe door is an unused space – just by installing hooks on wardrobe doors you can hang so many things like belts, hats, scarves.
You can even store trolleys.
Get versatile storage options
That is, get things you can have multiple uses – Like the storage cubes – they can be used as a dressing table chair cum storage.
Do not leave a trolley suitcase sitting idle – use it as storage space- you will be using it only during vacations anyway.
As a homemaker I need to be organised, unlike a scientist who is excused on behalf of his superior intellect. I buy organisational solutions in the hope that a life time of habits and a disorganized brain will correct itself and magically transform my wardrobe. I also hope to add extra space to my limited wardrobe area. Does these simple hacks work? Yes, absolutely. What do you use?
Store winter clothes in vacuum-sealed bags to save space.
Inside a vacumm bag, the air is removed, compressing the clothing inside. This creates a tight seal for the clothing that prevents air and moisture from entering. You can keep your winter clothes safe from dust, mold, mildew, and pests during the months they are not in use – and it all takes up very little space.
Store scarves on a hanger to prevent wrinkles.
Roll clothes instead of folding them to maximize space in your suitcase.
Roll your clothes to form compact bundles that can then be stacked and organised inside your luggage. This method allows you to fit more items than you normally could. Rolling also results in less creasing compared to folded clothes. The sharp folds when you fold clothes are not there when you roll. Also, it is easier to see and access individual clothes without making a mess of the rest of your packing.
Hang skirts with clips to avoid creasing at the waistband.
Place a fabric softener sheet in your closet to keep them smelling fresh.
Place a piece of white bread inside bags and shoe bags to absorb musty odors.
The bread acts as a natural odor absorber. Placing it in cupboards with or inside bags and shoes will remove the bad musty smell. Use plain bread- not one with seeds, nuts, or any added flavorings. Leave the bread in place overnight.
Rules for storing clothes
1. Do not expect miracles from low-quality clothes
Remember that good quality fabric will last without much damage for a long time. And in the same coin, cheap fabrics will not last long – whatever you do. It will turn yellow or brown. It will deteriorate, or the creases will break down, and holes will appear out of nowhere.
Do not buy clothes just because they are on sale. Look at the quality of the fabric, sturdiness of the seams, and ease of maintenance. If you are ok with throwing away clothes after some use or you want disposable clothes for soiling work, it is ok to look at the price; but if you want keepers – buy quality.
2. Do proper preparation before storage
Remove pins and other decorations like brooches from the cloth before storing. The pins may rust on the cloth or leave visible holes.
Refrain from throwing good clothes with heavily soiled clothes in the laundry bin; Also, check for clothes that you know may bleed in the bin or the wardrobe; do not keep them together with other clothes. I have lost a beautiful white tunic this way. It emerged blotched in pink stains after contact with a pink scarf in the laundry bin.
Do not keep shoes in the cupboard where you hang clothes. At least keep them in a shoe bag if you must.
Ensure that you have enough space in the wardrobe for all your clothes. An overflowing overstuffed wardrobe is not the best start for great storage. There is no way delicate clothes will survive stuffing and careless handling.
Ensure your clothes are not exposed to sunlight for long.
3. Clean clothes properly before storage
Store garments that are clean. Keeping a dress with food stains and such dirt will surely destroy the fibers at some point. There will be some unseen spots with dirt in your dress that may not be easily visible, so for clothes that you do not plan to wear for some time, it is better to get it cleaned – yourself or by a dry cleaner.
You can give the dress to a dry cleaner, and they will clean it and keep it in a box for storage if you request. Some fabrics like wool and silk may have to be dry cleaned. Basically, I do not particularly like dry cleaning. Too many chemicals in my opinion.
Clean your precious clothes by hand washing them yourself. But do not attempt this if the dress is heavily embroidered (check out this post on hand washing clothes to see which are the clothes you can easily wash at home and which you cannot). The thread used in the embroidery may run, and this is enough for panic.
If you are washing the clothes at home yourself, you should ensure that you have rinsed all the soap residue from the cloth before storing them. The soap residue will gradually corrode the fibers. 5 rinses would not be too much for your heirloom.
Remember not to use bleach on any of your delicate clothes. Especially on white clothes. Bleach will cause the fabric to turn yellow over time.
Hand wash your clothes in cold water – distilled water can be good for very precious pieces of clothing. Make sure the detergent you use is ph balanced and fragrance free. Do not scrub hard if you do not want fabric fibers damaged. And do not tumble dry if possible for longer lasting clothes.
Soaking very delicate clothes repeatedly to replace the agitation you give in usual washing may keep the delicate fibers of your garment intact.
Do you know that you can vacuum your clothes – use the hand vacuum to take out dust particles in clothes that are not suitable to be laundered? If you have a very delicate fabric, vacuuming may damage it, so keep a protective layer/screen over it before attempting vacuuming.
4. Storage ideas
Ensure that the storage area is dry and clean. Your damp basement is generally not a great space for storing your precious clothes.
Check for Humidity inside the wardrobe – high humidity means moisture will be present inside, and this is not good. Mildew will soon follow.
Make sure that the place you have chosen is not near any heat source.
Hanging your gown by a hanger for a long time in storage is generally a bad idea. After some time, the hanging will take a toll on the fabric. Storing the clothes flat in a cupboard is recommended.
If your wardrobe has metal anywhere inside, do not keep your clothes in contact with this surface. Use a muslin lining and then keep clothes. In the same token, do not use metal hangers.
Plastic boxes will sweat, so it is not a great idea to use them for storing clothes. They also give out toxic gases, which are harmful; Plastic bags are also out of the question for long-term storage of clothes.
You can choose large clean cardboard boxes to store the clothes. Make sure that there are large holes in the box for air to circulate. Some cardboard boxes will come moth infected. They should be avoided.
Line the box with the acid-free, lignin-free, neutral ph, tissue paper so that the fabric doesnot come into direct contact with the cardboard. You can also use washed thin muslin/mul cloth. Keep the garment and then place the tissue/cloth over it as well.
The dress should not be cramped or stuffed inside the box. They should lie flat and without creases. If there are deep creases, the fibers may crack there after some time. It is a good idea to take it out and change the position of the folds from time to time. This way the creases would not set permanently. Some people roll the garments rather than fold them to avoid permanent creases.
Fabric bags with zips may also be used to keep precious dresses neatly arranged.
Do not arrange your wardrobe so that the thin delicate clothing are weighed down by heavy clothes on top.
5. Prevent and stop moth attacks
Make sure that there are no bugs in the cupboard. Cloth moths and carpet beetles are small insects that eat fabric fibers in the dark corners of wardrobes. They leave holes behind which are unsightly. They are not easy to spot till you notice your clothes getting holes.
But once you have seen the moths, be aggressive in cleaning them out. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove every drop of their trace. Dispose of the vacuum bag without delay or even better, burn it.
Keeping moth balls in a sachet inside the wardrobe is a good preventive measure against cloth moths. These balls ( also known by the chemical name paradichlorobenzene crystals) will have to be kept inside a closed wardrobe for it to be effective. Do not let them come in direct contact with the clothes.
How to keep the moth balls so that they do not touch your clothes.
-
- Hang the balls from a small sachet on the clothes rod.
-
- Keep inside a box with holes so that the vapor will spread inside the wardrobe( this is important – the vapor kills the moths).
Keeping the moth balls along with a sachet of herbs like orange peels, lavender sprigs will make sure that the horrible smell of moth balls is somewhat lessened. The herb sachet may not be enough to keep the insects away, so keeping them along with moth balls offer a better realistic solution than some claim.
Keeping your clothes fresh in storage – here are some simple but effective ways to store clothes in your closet and take them out smelling good and looking fresh.
Tips to make your clothes smell good
Tip No 1 : Make your own closet freshener
Using fragrance to make your closet smell good – the age old trick is still as effective as in the days when scented oils and incense sticks were used to keep closets smelling divine. Ancient Egyptians burned fragrant incense in special incense burners to keep their clothes fragrant.
You do not have to do all that or inhale all that bad smoke – here are the easy ways.
Make a potpourri bag
You can make a divine smelling bag with some net and dried flowers infused with fragrance/store bought potpourri. Just keep it inside your closet and your closet will smell good for a long long time.
To make my bag I folded a 16 inch by 8 inch net by half and stitched the bottom edge and joined the short edges together. Made a small bag this way.
Use pretty ribbons to tie after you have filled it with your potpourri mix and then hang or keep it in your closet
Related post: Make a rose petal filled sachet.
Use fragrance soaked fabric piece.
Take a cotton cloth – pour 3-4 drops of essential oil which you love to smell – I love orange, rose and lavender. Keep it under your wardrobe liner.
You can add some eucalyptus oil as well – it smells fresh and detracts moths inside the closet. I used to use the paper wrapping on fragrant soap inside clothes – they never lasted but as long as they did, they made the clothes smell wonderful.
Make a Pomander ball
A Pomander is a ball or perforated container of aromatic materials, placed in a cupboard or room to perfume the air Or a piece of fruit, typically an orange, studded with cloves and hung in a wardrobe to perfume it. ; So many tutorials to make it – you can check out a good one here.
Tip No 2 : Store smart
Do not store sweaty clothes inside the closet – hang them out.
Make sure that your clothes do not have residue of food, perspiration, pet hair, urine etc before you store them. Wash or Spot clean and dry thoroughly before you store in the closet.
Do not store clothes in a plastic bag. The clothes will suffocate inside a plastic bag and create a horrible moldy smell. Use cloth bags instead. This is especially for leather clothes and accessories.
Tip No 3 : Get rid of mildew from closets early
Mildew is horrible and is the opposite of fresh. It makes your closet smell stale. If you notice any humidity /water inside the closet, deal with it immediately. Mildew will start forming there and it can make a lot of trouble – allergies, destroyer of fabrics, and the horrible musty smell.
Keep the closet doors open on sunny days on regular intervals to< prevent mildew. Put on the fan at full speed as you do this. Store tissue paper inside to soak up extra moisture.
You can use methylated spirit to wipe away mildew from painted metal closet doors. Use a mixture of vinegar, soap and water to remove mold from wood closet inside panels.
Use an electric dehumidifier in the room if the problem persists.
Tip No 4 : Wash clothes smartly.
If you hate dealing with persistent bad smell on the clothes (Who doesn’t?) get rid of them as you wash them – pet odors, body odors etc may remain on clothes even after simple washing.
Most of the hardened odors on clothes can be rid of with a simple soak in Oxygenated bleach. A home remedy expert will prescribe Vinegar.
You can use a commercial deodorizer/odor eliminator on clothes which you are not washing or fabric freshener in the final rinse on clothes that you are washing.
Tip No 5 : Get rid of unwanted items from your closet
Do not store any clothing you haven’t used in the last one year along with your main clothes which you love and wear frequently. Old clothes have a musty smell and they spread.
Get rid of them if you can. If you have a feeling that the clothing is not suitable for you, however expensive it was, discard – give away to some one who will value it.
Start – it is difficult to de-clutter your wardrobe. Accept this and be ruthless. You will probably not miss any of the things you get rid of today.
Less things in your closet, the more happy, organised and fulfilled you feel. The overwhelming feeling will be gone forever.Try it.
What are your tips to store fabric and clothes and also make your closet smell good ?
