For most of us, limited closet space is a very real thing. We can’t all have walk-in closets the size of a football field and so we are forced to choose what gets prime real estate and what has to go away. There are some things we store because we are bored with them, and there are some things we store because the season has changed. Whatever the reason you are thinking about placing your clothing in self-storage, below are some tips for keeping it safe while it’s in self-storage.
Clean Them First
Make sure the clothing that you are putting into self storage is clean. Not only can dirty clothing attract insects, but any stains, or marks that are on the clothing when they go in may be impossible to remove once you take the clothing out of self storage.
Temperature Control
Making sure that you are renting a self storage unit with temperature is important for a lot of different items you put into storage, but it is especially important for certain fabrics and certain kinds of clothes. If you plan on keeping your clothing in self-storage for a lengthy period of time, invest in a storage unit that has temperature controls included.
Get the Right Packing Materials
The best things to use for storing clothing are archival boxes or plastic storage containers constructed from polypropylene. You can also use wardrobe boxes for anything that needs to be hung (such as an expensive tailored suit). Before you put clothing in bins, wrap them in acid-free tissue paper.
Beware of Insects
Take special care and inspect your clothing for insects (such as moths, etc.) before they go into storage. If there are moths, or any insects that might damage your clothing on your garments before you put them into storage, you may reopen the storage unit to find that the little devils have ruined much of your wardrobe.
Label
If your storage unit contains seasonal clothing of all kinds, label your clothes before putting them in so that you know what items are in what boxes. That way, when it comes time to go to the beach, or up to the mountain skiing, you don’t have to spend hours going through boxes first.
Storing your clothes will hopefully free up a lot of space in your closets for things that are really necessary. Whether it’s seasonal gear, or pieces that you just don’t see yourself wearing again anytime soon, keep the above safe storage tips in mind and make sure that your clothing is protected the whole time it is in self storage.
