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How To Properly Store Clothing

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Your wardrobe consists of items that you use every day, but over time your entire collection can grow and take up a massive amount of space within your home. Whether you want to simply free up space in your closet or store your items until siblings or children are large enough to wear them, you may want to consider renting a storage unit to keep your clothing in. However, before you move your clothes out of your home, you need to make sure that they are properly protected against potential sources of damage.

Cleaning

The first thing that you should do before you move any clothes into a storage unit is to make sure that they are freshly laundered. For jeans and every day casual clothes, this consists of simply running them through the washer and dryer, but for more formal items, you'll want to head to a dry cleaner's. Keep in mind that accessories, like shoes, belts, and bags, should all be cleaned as well – which can require specialized chemicals and material, such as leather cleaner.

Cleaning will remove any dirt or contaminants which may remain on the surface of your clothes' fibers, which can cause staining and damage if allowed to sit for a significant period of time.

Packing

When putting your clothes into storage, you need to make sure that you are using the proper materials to prevent damage from occurring. Garment bags are ideal for formal wear, but make sure that your bag is breathable: airtight or vacuum sealed bags can trap moisture and cause mold growth to occur over time.

For casual clothes, you'll want to avoid cardboard boxes, which can be easily eaten through by pests and won't protect your wardrobe from water damage. Instead, look for plastic containers that are ventilated on the side or on top: this will reduce the risk of water and pests from getting into your clothes, while also allowing any moisture on the interior of the container to properly and safely evaporate.

Controlling Pests

Finally, you'll want to take measures that keep pests like moths and mice away from your clothes, since they can nest in and eat away at your fabrics. Chemical deterrents are available at most hardware stores and can be left out to prevent specific pests from entering your storage unit. You may also want to use cedar blocks: the smell of cedar is a natural repellent, but is also pleasant and won't leave your clothes smelling like mothballs for weeks after you take them out of storage.

For more information, contact local professionals like those found at North Star Mini Storage.


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