Stock up on seasonal clothes

Where do you store your seasonal clothes? The ideal is to store clothes from all seasons together, but not everyone can do this. If you have a huge closet with plenty of storage space, this might not be a problem. For those of us who don’t have big closets and not much storage space, we have to get creative when we change our wardrobe twice a year.

Spring has arrived and it’s time to switch up the wardrobe. Warmer weather means we can ditch the sweaters, fleece pants, and bulky coats. Now you can go out and play in short sleeves, sweaters and other lightweight pieces.

It’s a good time to do a cleanse as you take off your monsoon winter clothes. The less you have to put away, the less space is required.

Maybe you can take this opportunity to hold a dress-up party with your family and friends. This is kind of a double edged sword as you may end up with more clothes! Try to keep in mind that you are trying to reduce the amount of your clothes. After the swap is made, all items that no one wants are usually donated to a favorite charity.

After you’ve gone through a seasonal clothing purge, you need some options for storing out-of-season clothes to keep your seasonal clothes easily accessible. The option you choose will be specific to your situation.

Before storing any type of garment for a long time, please make sure it is clean and dry. It’s also a good idea to put sachets of lavender in the container to prevent moths (moths hate lavender) and to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

Check out the options below for ideas to suit your situation.

• Space Bags – There are a number of companies that sell space bags. If you are not familiar with these, they are plastic bags for storing clothes and bedding. You place the items in the bag, deflate and then seal it with the included plug. They are great for storing bulky items in small spaces.
• Lower Storage Containers – Some beds have built-in drawers, if you don’t have them, there are lower storage containers that work pretty much the same way. They are flat, have lids and some have wheels for easy access. Works well for storing seasonal clothes.
• Basement – This option is a bit tricky. Some basements are damp and musty, so I don’t recommend storing clothes for these types of basements. For dry others, plastic bins work well, as long as the clothes are clean and dry, and put lavender sachets in the containers to prevent moths and keep your clothes smelling fresh as mentioned above. Safes work well in dry basements, too. I have one in my basement that I use for hanging seasonal clothes, and I’ve never had a problem.
• Cedar cabinets and wardrobes – This is a great option for long-term storage of clothes. Moths also hate cedar, so that’s built in protection! Some people don’t like the smell of cedar, so it’s a favorite, but a good choice.
• Offsite Storage – There are companies that store seasonal clothing for a fee. These companies are usually a dry cleaning service that stocks your seasonal clothes at their locations. If this is something you are interested in, find this service in your area. The other option for off-site clothing storage is a general storage unit. If this is an option that might suit you, consider the above tips for storing clothes in the basement, there are temperature controlled storage units. This may be a better option for storing clothes.