Are you running out of closet space to store your clothes? Are you constantly looking for room on the closet rod to squeeze in just one more hanger?
These issues are bound to come up for every well-dressed lady and gent sooner or later. But who doesn’t have extra clothes? We never seem to have enough space to store our clothes, but somehow keep acquiring more.
Seasonal Clothes
Most of our wardrobes have a combination of clothes which are worn throughout the year and seasonal clothes. We have certain items of clothing and accessories for specific seasons, that are only used during their season and not throughout the year.
Summers may have beachwear, shorts and dresses that are long forgotten during cold winters or the rainy season. Raincoats and galoshes are great when it’s raining and wet, but tend to just take up space when the sun is shining. And of course, during the cold months, our clothes are bulky and bigger, taking up a lot of space in our daily wardrobes.
Occasional Clothes
We have special occasions in our life like weddings, pregnancy, job interviews, and holidays. The clothes which are worn by us on such occasions are often more expensive and delicate than those we wear daily (or in the case of maternity wear, don’t fit us the same after a certain amount of time). These clothes help us create special memories and build brighter futures, and require proper storage so that they look as bright as new when we’re ready to wear them again.
Storing Clothes
You can store clothes in an extra room at your house or, if space is lacking, you could look at renting a storage unit to keep your extra clothes and other accessories that you don’t use daily. Renting a self-storage is a great way to get some extra space in your place by providing a place to store extra items you may not need every day – including your clothes.
Hanging Clothes
The clothes that we typically wear can often be folded and kept in a drawer or cubby, or kept on a shelf, but there are clothes in our wardrobe which cannot be folded. The same clothes that fare better when hanging in our closet also must be hung when we put them away in storage. Below are a few pointers as to how you can best store your hanging clothes in a storage unit.
1. Discard Unwanted Clothes
Before you rent a storage unit for your seasonal clothes, go through all the extra clothes you have and decide if you are going to wear them again. Typically there are clothes that you have outgrown, whether the fit no longer flatters you or the trend is long over. You could donate these clothes to charity, or host a yard sale or use a reselling app like Poshmark to make some money off these clothes.
2. Clean Your Clothes
Once you’ve selected the clothes you want to keep off-site, you have to ensure the clothes are washed and dried properly before you put them away in your storage unit. Clothes that require hanging are typically your special occasion outfits, which also likely need to be dry cleaned. You should never store unwashed clothes as any stains or odors on worn clothes can attract harmful bacteria.
3. Get a Wardrobe Box
The storage facility where you are renting may also provide wardrobe boxes for storing hanging clothes in a storage unit. These wardrobe boxes come in various sizes so you can take your pick according to your needs. These wardrobe boxes have built-in hangers, and provide an extra layer of protection for your clothing while also keeping your storage unit organized. Use a cloth to cover your wardrobe box, to further protect the fabric from any settling dust.
4. Keep Fabric Fresh
Pick up a charcoal odor absorber or use cedar blocks or sachets to keep stored clothes smelling fresher longer. Follow the package instructions and place your odor absorber at the bottom of the wardrobe box or hang it on the end of the hanging rod. Whichever you choose, wrap it in fabric or otherwise create a barrier to prevent the cedar or charcoal from coming into direct contact with your clothing.
5. Get the Right Hangers
You should refrain from using metal hangers to hang your clothes, especially in a humid climate that could cause the metal to rust. Rust can cause permanent marks on your delicate clothes. It is suggested that you use wooden hangers or padded hangers which are a safer option for these expensive clothes, and help clothes keep their shape.
6. Clothes Need to Breathe
There is a myth that goes around that we should vacuum pack our clothes when we store them. This is not true; clothes are made of fibers which requires breathing, and also vacuum packing the clothes may leave permanent marks and wrinkles from being so tightly compressed. For these reasons, vacuum packing your clothing is not recommended.
7. Space out your Clothes
There is no need to fit all the clothes in one box; you have to keep sufficient space between two hangers for the air to pass by, again to let your clothes breathe. The quality and life of your clothing is largely influenced by the care and consideration with which they are stored, so providing adequate spacing is a must.
8. Temperature Control
There are some special clothes that not only must be hung, but must also be temperature controlled when stored. Antique dresses and furs are examples of clothing which require to be maintained at a certain temperature to keep the material supple and prevent cracking. If you plan to store these types of special garments, check with the storage facility you are considering to see if they offer climate controlled units.
9. Inventory Check
Make an inventory list of the clothes that you hang in the wardrobe box. This will make it easier for you to know what’s at home and what’s in storage, so that you can easily grab the outfit you need the next time you want to remove some clothes from storage.
Depending on the size of your collection, you could look at color coding, numbering your clothing items or labelling to make the inventory list.
The clothes you wear give the first impression of your personality, and they have to be in proper condition. We spend a lot of money on buying expensive and delicate clothes, but maintaining them also requires some attention and time. By being careful when preparing and storing your clothes, you can help maintain the colour and quality of your garments, giving them a longer life.
If you’re looking for a storage facility to store your belongings, Armor Storage has got you covered in this department. Here at Armor Storage, we offer a wide range of unit selections and top-notch security. To learn more about our self-storage facility, please check out our website at http://armor-storage.com/.