Clothing Storage: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know

Did you see that? Was that a falling leaf?! That can only mean one thing - FALL! Time to switch out your clothes!

(If you're unfamiliar with the comedian Trey Kennedy as pictured above, please do yourself a favor and check out his Instagram and past Fallelujah videos on YouTube. Thank me later.)

OR maybe you just went on a shopping spree and need to hide the evidence, or your closet is inaccessible for renovations, or whatever your reason, you need clothing storage!

First things first - you need to take care of your stuff. Your clothing should be preserved along the lines of a museum's artifacts. You spent your hard-earned money on clothing; take care of it! Fabric does NOT do well in plastic or cardboard, for many reasons:

1. Cardboard can degrade in water + humidity and is a breeding ground for silverfish. Eww.

2. Plastic bins trap moisture and heat, which cause mold, odor, and stains.

3. Static sparks from plastic bins can damage delicate materials like lace and beading. Who knew?

Instead, your gold standard is a fabric bag or fabric bin with a lid. Why? It's biggest feature is that its breathable, preventing all the issues that plastic bins have, allowing your clothing to remain fluffy and smelling nice. They also look much sleeker and nicer than plastic, doubling as decor!

Caveat

Before we dive into the bins I recommend, I need you to know as a precaution, I always put 2 things in each fabric bin before storing it away: a silica gel pack and a cedar plank. While fabric bins do breathe, we still want to do the best we can to protect our clothing, and these two items further save your clothing from pests and unnecessary moisture, should it accumulate. Follow the manufacturer's instructions - for instance, many cedar planks should be wrapped in tissue paper so as to not stain the clothing they are next to.

Alright, with that out of the way, here are the most common places you can store extra clothing and my recommendations for what products to use.

Underbed Storage

This is most common place to store extra clothing, as it is out of the way and uses a space that is almost never used. Once you've measured the height of your bed from floor to frame, you can find a container that fits your needs.

1. Fabric underbed storage bag - breathable, not too structured, and can hold a large amount of clothing, like this one from The Container Store.

2. Fabric and plastic underbed storage box - these are also breathable, but have a plastic top so you can see the contents easily. They are more structured, reinforced on the ends so they keep their shape.

3. Fabric and plastic rolling storage box - everything from #2 above but with casters for easier accessibility. Great for hardwood or vinyl flooring, but wouldn't recommend if you're bed has carpet underneath.

See these rolling bins in action! So functional! So aesthetically pleasing!

High Closet Shelves

Next time you walk into your closet, look up. Most closets have shelving higher than the hanging rod, and most likely it's a treasure trove of vertical space you aren't using. Here are some ideas for that unique space.

1. Underbed storage box - I know, I know, it's called "underbed" but we can do whatever we want. For this client, I found that the tiny space above her custom closet shelves was a perfect fit.

Here's how it turned out:

We zuzhed it up with gold metal labels from Neat Method and gold-on-black label tape with my Brother Ptouch Cube label maker. Voila!

Here's another look at the whole setup above the closet shelving:

2. Bisgo Soft Fabric Storage Box - these are high quality boxes, from a brand that also makes archival products for office storage, so they know what they're doing. I love how they come in different sizes and colors!

Hanging Storage

If you have clothing that will not store well folded (like larger coats, or delicate fabrics that might wrinkle), hanging storage is your jam.

1. In Your Current or Guest Room Closet

   These shoulder covers are great for jackets that just need a little something to keep the dust off.

These covers come in different sizes according to the garment you're storing, and include their own hangers and frame for stability:

If you HAVE to be able to see the garment, these bags are half fabric/half plastic, so still breathable and see-through.

2. In a Storage Room, Basement, Attic, etc.

You'll need to buy a garment rack, but make sure you don't overfill it! Look at the manufacturer's recommendations. You can then simply cover it with a large piece of fabric like a blanket, or use the hanging options above. And for the love of your clothing, feel free to double up on the silica gel packs and cedar planks!

This garment rack is a great option as it folds for easy storage and holds up to 120 lbs of evenly distributed clothing:

And this one by InterMetro (industrial shelving giant) is a little more sturdy and holds up to 300 lbs of clothing:

It also comes in a version with it's own cover, as well! All-encompassing, sturdy product.

I think that about covers it, no pun intended. The point is - you need to take care of your stuff - and with a little planning and thought - you'll be able to enjoy your clothing for years to come without fear of damage!