Our family has a Chicago storage unit that we use for all seasonal things as well as any extra storage we might need over the years. (Every year it seems like we accumulate more stuff!) One of the things I like to store is our winter/ summer clothes. It’s a great way to clean out the closets and focus on the clothing you are actually going to wear that season. Packing and storing clothes though can be a little tricky. You want to make sure they look just as good coming out as they did going in! Here are my best tips for storing your seasonal clothes.

1. Make sure everything is clean and laundered before packing away. Anything left on your clothes (a little speck of dirt or a stain) will be set after several months packed away in a storage unit. It’s also important to clean the clothes to keep bugs from invading your sweaters.

2. Use clean, sturdy suitcase for packing the clothes in. Line the suitcase with acid free paper. This is the best way to ensure that no insects get inside. Boxes and plastic wrap can allow bugs to invade and destroy your clothing.

3. Be very cautious about hanging items. Long term hanging can cause the clothes to become misshapen. It is much better to fold the clothes, wrap in tissue paper and out inside a storage container or suitcase. Make sure to stack them loosely so the air is still able to circulate freely.

4. Make sure you storage unit it clean, cool, and very dry. It also helps to watch out for any light that can penetrate the unit as light can cause sun damage to the clothing. Clean your unit very carefully before storing any clothing items and be very cautious of any wetness. It can cause mildew or mold and all your clothes will have to be thrown away.