Tips for Storing Off Season Clothes

We have been lucky to have a house with lots of storage and I loved filling up all the closets!  When the seasons change – in this case Winter to Spring – I start storing my off season clothes.  A few years ago I read  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up  and attacked everything in my many closets, drawers and hiding spaces (I posted about it here).

It really helped me start thinking about what I liked to wear, what looked well on me and only keep things that “sparked joy”.  I  minimize my clothes and swapping seasons is so much easier.

Now when I embark on my closet switches I take some of the lessons learned from Marie Kondo, some from when I worked with a clothing stylist and then tips I have learned over the years.

Don’t Rush!  I know you want to get it done quickly but you will regret it later.

Here are Some Great Tips for Storing Off Season Clothing

• PURGE: This is a big one.  Before you do anything.  Take a stroll through everything in your current closet and drawers.  What did you not wear?  What have you not worn for over a year or more? What doesn’t fit? What do you put on and end up taking it off because you don’t feel good in it? ?  It’s time to Sell, Donate or Toss.
• Clean and Mend Clothing:  Anything need a repair, a trip to the cleaners or seamstress?  You will be so happy that you made the effort now to fix and clean before storing. I promise you! Nothing is worse than pulling out a beloved sweater to find a stain you forgot about.
• Shoes Need a Once Over: Winter boots and shoes need to be cleaned and wiped down.  Dirt, salt, and even wet rain/ snow can leave marks that need to be addressed before storing.  Summer sandals – especially your beach sandals need to be cleaned and brushed off.

Time for Storage: Now you are ready for storage!

• For Folded Clothes: It is best to keep your clothes and accessories in a climate controlled environment away from direct sunlight or heat.  The sun can fade garments and dry out leather items.  I prefer clear bins that let me see what I have stored and keep moisture and any potential critters away.  Do not use clear bins if you have any sunshine in your storage space, instead use an opaque colored bin.
• For Hanging Clothes: I transition my current hanging items to a foldable garment rack and then bring in my off season items.  I then place the items for storage in clear hanging storage bags
• For Shoes: I use these clear drawer boxes for all my shoes.  I move the winter shoes to the top of my closet and the Spring ones down to eye level.
• For Boots: I put my  cleaned, wiped down boots in their original boxes with tissue paper stuffing to keep their shape.  I place the boxes in a clean plastic bin.
• For Bags: I stuff the smallest bag with tissue and place it inside its dust cover. I then use that bag as the stuffing for a bigger bag.  I put a dust cover on each bag after it has been stuffed with either tissue or another bag.  I place the stuffed, covered bags standing up in a clear bin.  I tape an index sized card on the box with a list of the items inside.

Similar Organizing Posts: Solutions to Organize Your Drawers and Packing Up the Latest Christmas Storage