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The Do's and Don'ts of Seasonal Clothing Storage

Imagine walking into your favorite boutique in the heat of summer to snag a new sundress and cute sandals for the beach, only to find nothing but bulky sweaters and snow boots. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense, right? Think of your closet in the same way. The more you rotate your seasonal inventory to match your current needs, the easier your life will be. Read on for our do’s and don’ts of storing your off-season clothing and creating the closet rotation system that works for you.

Step 1: Edit

Do: Purge Prior

Before you put anything in storage, you must take stock of your current off-season inventory. Editing will give you the opportunity to reevaluate your wardrobe to clear space and start fresh. Here’s a list of items to evict from your closet immediately:

Anything that doesn’t fit you or is uncomfortable
Anything you haven’t worn in a year
Anything stained or damaged that you don’t plan to fix
Anything someone else would get use out of

From there, determine what should be tossed, donated, or sold. (Need tips for reselling your items? Scroll through our full guide here.) If you finish editing and your closet still looks cramped, go ahead and take a pass through every item, not just the off-season ones you are moving to storage. No matter what square footage you are working with, you always want to make sure that your space is no more than 80% full at any given time. That 20% breathing room is the key to avoiding system overload and staying organized over time.

Don't: Make Piles Without A Plan

Whether it’s scheduling an appointment for a Salvation Army pickup or making a list of the people you want to give certain items to, knowing your exit strategy will decrease the likelihood that you’ll be driving around with donation bags in the back of your trunk a year from now.

Do: Plan For Unpredictable Weather

Depending on where you live, seasons aren’t so straight-forward. Just when you think you’re ready to put those rain boots to rest, a storm comes blowing through. We suggest leaving a one pair of boots, a coat, and a sweater in your closet, just in case.

Don't: Stop Moving

Once you get into an editing groove, don’t call it quits and say you’ll come back to it another time. Stopping and restarting is a big reason people tend to lose interest and confidence when tackling an organizing project. What will go a long way is making sure you are giving yourself enough time to parse through everything. As long as you get through the editing process in one session, you can always come back to the organization piece later.

Step 2: Contain

Do: Store In Good Condition

While you may be tempted to toss everything into storage as is, think about future you. Will future you want to deal with sewing a button back on? Spot cleaning a stain that’s now been settling for months? No, future you will want unpack and wear immediately. Taking care of business beforehand will not only only save you stress in the long run, but also protect the quality of your clothing.

Don’t: Waste Valuable Real Estate

Anything at eye level is the closet equivalent of beachfront property. The items you wear the most should be visible and easy to access. As for the off-season ones? They can hang out top shelves, under beds, or in other areas of the home, such as the guest closet, in the meantime. Whatever you choose, it should be someplace cool and dry to prevent mold and mildew. To be extra safe, drop in one of these dehumidifier packs before closing the lid to absorb any moisture.

Do: Prioritize Protection

Sure, a container that saves a ton of space is ideal, but the top priority when choosing long-term storage should be protecting your clothing. Since all fabrics or materials require a different level of care, choosing the right container comes down to the item and how it should be stored. From there, you can decide on the best option for your space.

Clothing:

Anything “puffy” or “fluffy”: Hang in a protective garment bag and store in the back of your closet. You want to avoid folding, or you risk your favorite down coat from looking permanently sad and smushed.

Cotton: Condense your folded stacks in vacuum sealed bags and store in a clear weathertight bin.

Silk/Cashmere/Wool: These are all delicate materials that require more air circulation, so opt for a canvas or linen storage bin rather than plastic. For extra protection, fold each item and wrap in acid-free tissue paper to preserve color and protect from dust.

Leather: Before storing, stuff the inside of your leather jacket with acid-free paper, including the sleeves and pockets, to create a barrier for dust and moisture and helps the material keep it’s shape. If there are zippers, wrap those as well to avoid any scuffing. Place in a non-plastic storage bin, folded flat to avoid creasing.

SHOP THE STORAGE

Cotton Gusseted Coat Bags

Vacuum Bags

Storage Box w/ Vacuum Bag

Weathertight Totes

Archival Under Bed Garment Storage Box

Underbed Boxes w/ Wheels

Zippered Storage Bags

Shoes:

The best place for storing shoes? Under your bed! We recommend storage with compartments so each pair can be separated to avoid damage. Larger shoes, like boots, can live separately in boot bins. For added protection, stuff each pair with acid-free tissue paper or inserts prior to storing.

SHOP THE STORAGE

Under Bed Shoe Storage Organizer

Boot Box

Quilted Boot Shapers

Cedar Shoe Fresh Inserts

Don't: Mess With Pests

Moths tend to have pretty expensive taste. While they love munching on wool, silk, and cashmere, they’ll also enjoy a delicious cotton sweater if it’s available. For a natural repellent, add cedar blocks or lavender sachets to your storage to keep your clothing protected and smelling fresh.

Step 3: Maintain

Do: Create A Labeling System

Having to sift through bins to find that one thing you need? No, thanks! Work smarter, not harder with a labeling system that can easily identify what lives where, and make the packing and unpacking process more streamlined overall. We recommend sticking to general categories that can cater to every closet rotation and seasonal item. Here’s an example:

Seasonal Clothing:

Coats, puffer vests, longer layers, sweaters
Swim coverups, swimsuits, sundresses, shorts

Seasonal Shoes:

Boots
Sandals, wedges, open-toe heels

Seasonal Accessories:

Mittens, beanies, scarves, wool socks
Beach bags, sun hats

Whether you choose to order custom labels in our signature font or use a traditional label maker, these sturdy options will set up for success season after season.

Don’t: Forget To Check In

For better or for worse, when something is out of sight, it’s typically out of mind. It helps to take stock of what off-season items are currently in storage so you know exactly what will be added back into your closet during the next rotation. These QR stickers, which are connected to a phone app, make it easy to keep track of inventory over time.

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