3 Steps to Store Summer Clothes

You're the kind of person that cares about their clothes. You’re willing to go the extra mile to make sure they last. We’re here to help you with this.

Can you believe we’re nearing the end of Summer? Maybe you’ve already started seeing posts about fall outfits and seasonal drinks you love. If you love rotating your closets, this email is for you. If you’re interested in what that's all about, this email is for you. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, this may be for you too.

Define rotating closets:

The process of moving your in season clothing into your closet (fall time = fall clothing, spring time = spring clothing) while rotating it out with your off-season clothing. This off-season clothing is properly stored in a space that is easily accessible. The main benefit of this is that you clear up closet space so you can easily pick out what you are wearing for the day without a closet mess on the ground or a challenging time moving through your closet.

Here are 3 steps to store your summer clothes:

Clothing soul-searching and sorting: What did you love this summer? Does anything need to be decluttered? Tailored?

I like to look at what I wore, what I did not wear, and what needs to be tailored. As you’re starting to take your summer pieces out, sort them on a flat surface, like a table or bed, in these 3 categories.

Clothes you loved: What did I wear on repeat? What do I feel my best in?
Clothes you did not wear as much: Do they no longer fit you? Are they no longer representative of you? Got stains?
Clothes that needed to be edited: Were any of these pieces ripped, ended up being too short, too wide, too long on you?

Process each section of clothing

Clothes you loved: The pieces you did wear, give them a hug (or not ha)! They expressed you, made you feel confident, or simply made you feel comfortable this season.
Clothes you did not wear as much: Go through this decluttering guide we made with a luxury home organizer to process these pieces. Where possible, we recommend passing your pieces to a loved one, upcycling it (Check out Re.Statement), or reselling/consigning it (Check out Dora Maar). We recommend this because you can give someone the opportunity of discovering a their next favorite closet addition.This also mitigates these pieces ending up in the landfill. If you have stains, check out this infographic or consider going to your nearest dry cleaners to get them removed.
Clothes that needed to be edited: Consider going to your nearest tailor - find them with a simple online search. A tailor can help you mend your pieces or alter them in a way where they can perfectly fit you for the next time summer rolls around. We love going to Elia De Leon in our Dallas backyard!

Store your summer clothing in your storage of choice (except plastic)

I love to fold most of my clothing when storing. When storing, group like garments together - group all of your summer tops together, all of your summer shorts together, all of your summer dresses (if applicable) together.
I typically use drawers and if I run out of space, I will use an empty suitcase/duffel bag to store the remaining folded clothes. Style editor and blogger Kim Naci shares her recommendation to not store clothes in plastic bags because “They hold moisture, which invites moths.” So keep this in mind when selecting where you store your pieces. She also recommends putting your favorite pieces on the top of your folded stacks for easy access.
Label where necessary. Most of the time you have a general idea of what stack includes what. However, if you’d like easier retrieval then consider writing what each stack is on a piece of paper and taping it onto your storage container of choice.
Store your pieces in a cool room temperature environment - like 75 degrees fahrenheit. Avoid any spaces prone to high humidity and high temperatures as this can invite mold and mildew to your cherished garments. Underneath the bed, an additional room, or a climate-controlled storage area are great options. There is also the option of using moisture-absorbing packets that can help mitigate clothing damage if you have to store them in a higher humidity/temperature environment. Do your best and make the most of what you have here! For items that you’d prefer to lay flat, consider getting a garment bag.

Bonus #1: Invite a friend or family member!

This can be a fun, exciting, and liberating process. If this is your first time doing this or it feels intimidating, have someone you love join you in this process. Friends and family make it all the better.

Bonus: #2: Check on your storage to ensure it is in good condition - no mildew, no bugs! Adjust accordingly.

Bonus #3: Protect your in-season clothing with Hangio hangers that stop your clothes from being stretched out. They are also light-weight and compact for any upcoming fall travel you have coming up.

And you're done! When you're ready to take them out for the next change in season, you will be ready to go and empowered. How nice will it be to fall in love with your pieces all of over again? (No pun intended!)

What’s next?:

Shop: Test out one hanger today
Freebie: Download your free Declutter Guide
Read More: 5 Closet Organization Tips
Talk to us: Email me back or drop your feedback here!

With love,

Ayo

Learn about my story.

All of our sources used:

https://www.rd.com/article/clothing-storage-off-season/

https://www.thespruce.com/storing-seasonal-clothing-1900114

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Photo by Becca McHaffie on Unsplash

Subscribe NOW to get the latest blog posts on clothing care!