It’s frustrating to pull clothing out of storage only to discover that it has taken on a musty odour. But by following a few simple housekeeping rules, you can keep your stored threads fresh and fragrant until you’re ready to wear them again.
Sorting clothes for storage
Before you store your summer clothing, give each item a once over. If it’s worn out or no longer fits, do you really want to go to the effort of storing it?
If it’s wearable, but no longer to your taste, donate it, or use a selling site like eBay or Vinted to move it along. And if it’s faded, stained or ripped, recycle it.
Remember to empty the pockets of clothes you are storing. It’s lovely to find a tenner the first time you wear a jacket in the spring; but an old tissue or wrapped piece of gum is less of a pleasant surprise. And if you don’t turn out your pockets you risk ‘losing’ a crucial item such as a spare key or handy gadget until spring 2027.
Washing clothes for storage
Don’t store dirty or unwashed clothes. Grease and smells can spread to other items stored nearby, and food stains, grease and dead skin will attract – and feed – pests like moth. So only store clothes that have been laundered recently.
It’s really important to completely dry clothes before storage. Damp fabrics can quickly turn mouldy, causing staining and deterioration. Mould will also create that musty odour that you’re trying to avoid. Ironing and airing clothes can speed up the drying process.
Although your stored clothing will be insured if it goes mouldy because of a sudden event like a burst pipe or water ingress, it won’t be insured if the mildew developed slowly over time. For more detail, see our mould and mildew information.
Preventing moth damage to stored clothing
Carefully inspect wool clothing for signs of moth damage before storage. Anything that could be infested needs cleaning and treating before you put it away.
Note that your insurance won’t cover damage caused by pests already present in your clothes. Discover more about protecting your stored goods from moth damage. Or The London Moth Company has a handy ebook about exterminating this pest.
Reputable storage companies will take steps to prevent moth infestations – but if this is a concern, put a sticky moth trap in your unit. This will alert you to the presence of breeding moths before they become a problem. Some people swear by cedarwood as a moth repellent, and others favour lavender.
Clean, climate-controlled and dark
The ideal storage setting for clothing should be clean, climate-controlled and dark. That sounds a lot like a self-storage unit, doesn’t it!
Portable garment rails will allow you to hang clothes to reduce wrinkling. But not all clothing benefits from being stored on a hanger. Knitted jumpers, cardigans and coats can pull out of shape. These are better folded and stored flat.
To save space, you might use vacuum bags – but you will have a lot of ironing to do next spring. See our best practice guide to vacuum bags.
Stored clothing will be covered by your self-storage insurance. If you’re adding items to your storage unit, do take a moment to update your inventory. It’s also a good time to check that you’re not overpaying for self-storage insurance. Get a quote from us to compare.
