October 12, 2025, 8:28 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In winter, summer clothes go into the closet, and in summer, it’s the other way around. But where to put all the sweaters, thick jackets, and shirts? myHOMEBOOK reveals how you should store your clothing.
To properly store your clothing, there are a few things to consider. The main factors are location and type of packaging. Cleanliness also plays a role. By following these tips and storing your clothes correctly, you won’t face any unpleasant surprises next season.
The Right Place to Store Clothing
Suitable locations are basements or attics. The main thing is that it’s dry, dark, cool, and clean. This way, you don’t have to worry about stored items being affected by mold or pests or fading due to light exposure. At a temperature between 66 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and fifty percent humidity, clothing is protected from rapid deterioration. Too warm and dry air could make the wardrobe unelastic and rough.
Always Store Clothing Washed
Before finding a suitable location, make sure the clothing to be stored is free of dried food residues and coffee stains. Dirty pants, sweaters, and skirts can attract unwanted pests and small animals, such as carpet beetles or clothes moths, that can damage the fabrics.
Also, ensure that pockets are emptied. The thought of having to remove sticky remnants of a pack of gum in six months is not particularly pleasant. Before putting away freshly washed clothes, they should be completely dry to prevent unpleasant odors or mold.
Store Scent Sachets with Clothing
Speaking of unpleasant odors: To prevent the well-known “basement smell” from clinging to your items and to keep the scent as pleasant as when you first packed them, add a few scent sachets. These are available at low prices in drugstores or furniture stores.
If you want to get creative, you can easily make them yourself. Grab a piece of fabric—perhaps you have leftover socks or discarded shirts from decluttering. Place dried lavender flowers or rose petals in the center and tie the corners with a ribbon. Lavender sachets are also excellent for keeping clothes moths away.
Also interesting: Declutter Your Home With the “Decluttering” Method
Vacuum-Sealing Clothes?
To have enough space for the entire wardrobe that needs to disappear for the upcoming half of the year, store clothes in vacuum bags. While this protects clothing from dust, odors, pests, and moisture and provides about 75 percent more space than regular storage, the downside is that not every material is suitable. Down, natural wool textiles, and embellished clothing should not be compressed.
Carefully Fold Clothes
Clothing with zippers, rhinestone or pearl embellishments, and buttons should not be vacuum-sealed. These could deform or even damage other clothes, blouses, or sweaters if a thread gets caught and is pulled when unpacking.
Carefully fold such clothing and, if necessary, place tissue paper in between. This prevents annoying creases or imprints. Particularly heavy materials should be laid flat, as seams could tear or the fabric could stretch due to the weight. In a box or specially made clothing boxes, clothes feel most comfortable, aside from being stored in the closet.
How to Prevent Moth Infestation with a DIY Scented Sachet
8 Tips to Create More Space in Your Closet
Do Not Hang Clothes on Thin Wire Hangers
Clothing should still fit a three-dimensional body after storage. To ensure this, do not hang jackets, dresses, or tops on narrow wire hangers. These would leave marks over time. To mimic the usual shape of the neck and shoulders, it’s best to use wider hangers made of wood or hard plastic.
How to Store Shoes
Although pairing chunky Dr. Martens with shorts is trendy, lined moon boots are out of place in summer. Sneakers you want to set aside for a season because they don’t currently match your taste should be stored, not discarded. Fill the shoes with newspaper or household paper and shoe trees to maintain their usual shape. Ideally, boots are stored standing in cotton bags. If space is limited, lay them flat in a box to avoid dents.