Cooler temperatures are almost among us! Before you know it, it’s going to be time to make some room in your closets for your summer wardrobe. It’s very important to correctly store your summer clothing so that your clothes aren’t damaged for the following summer. Summer clothes are usually made from lightweight, sheer, and more delicate materials and fabrics. Many of these summer fabrics tend to wrinkle easily. However, there are ways to store your summer clothes so that they’ll be ready to wear whenever you need them. Let’s take a closer look at how to store your summer clothes in the best way possible!
When Storing Your Summer Clothes
Always wash your clothing prior to sorting them. Don’t just toss your summer clothing into a box. By cleaning the clothes before storing them away, you’ll ensure that your clothes will remain fresh while in storage. Garments that are dirty will deteriorate with time, and left-over body oils can lead to discoloration and unwanted odors. It is important to follow this cleaning process with your sneakers and sandals as well.
Keep, Donate, Toss
First, begin by sorting your summer clothes into categories and putting them into piles. Divide each pile of clothing into piles of “clothes to keep” “clothes to donate,” and “clothes to toss out.” At times it’s tough to figure out what garment goes in which pile. However, it’s important to be honest with yourself-if you didn’t wear the item of clothing all summer long, would you really wear it next summer? Ask yourself whether you’re willing to spend time and money on fixing a summer clothing piece that’s ripped or just looks worn out.
Cleaning Summer Clothes
Professionally dry cleaning your summer clothing before they are put away in storage is a must. Small stains are very difficult to remove after your clothes are put in storage during the winter. Stains may also attract bugs that can eat through your garment and ruin your clothing.
Hang or Fold?
Be sure to fold clothes made up of acrylic and poly fibers. Use acid-free tissue between each piece to avoid wrinkling of the garments. Hanging these delicate materials can lead to unwanted stretching. Fabrics such as silk or cotton can be hung up on padded or wooden hangers. Read out blog post “Different Types Of Hangers For Your Clothes” to learn more about choosing the perfect hanger for your garments.
Never leave clothes in plastic garment bags. Always use ones made of cotton instead. Clothes left in plastic bags trap moisture and promote mildew growth. Cotton bags allow your clothing garments to breathe.
Using plastic bins instead of cardboard for folded garments prevents the likelihood of insects getting into the boxes and damaging your apparel.
Lastly, always store your clothes away in a clean, dry, and dark area with an adequate amount of air circulation and ventilation. Avoid storing your summer garments in attics, garages, or basements.
Types of Summer Clothing
Cotton Clothing
Cotton is a very soft, thin, and breathable fabric. Cotton allows heat to easily escapes from your body so you stay cooler during the hot summer days. However, cotton wrinkles easily. Cotton is also vulnerable to sweat stains by the armpits and collar, especially in light colors like white and baby pink. When cleaning and storing cotton clothing, use cold water to prevent shrinkage of the garment.
For white clothes, always read the label to see if you can add chlorine bleach to whiten the item more or if you should stick to oxygen bleach for brightening the fabric. Never dry cotton garments at high heat in the dryer. Lastly, hang cotton garments to reduce wrinkles.
Linen Clothing
Linen is also a very breathable fabric that’s perfect for the hot weather. It’s extremely lightweight and also prone to serious wrinkling. Some people prefer the wrinkled linen look, while others don’t. If you prefer the smooth, unwrinkled look, you may want to have the item professionally dry cleaned before storing it for the winter weather. When storing linen summer clothing, keep in mind that linen garments absorb a lot of water during the wash cycle. Dry linen items separately so they don’t moisten up other garments.
Along with this, if you choose to iron your linen before storing them, turn the item inside out and use a steam iron! Store all of your linen clothing in a cotton storage bag. This will keep the bugs away. In addition, keep your storage bins in a cool and dry place.
Bathing Suits
Has there ever been a time where you’ve taken your bathing suits out of storage and noticed that the colors have faded away and the elastic or fabric has deteriorated? That is due to chlorinated water, sun exposure and sweat. These substances can make your bathing suits more dull, brittle and dry. Follow these tips when washing and storing your bathing suits:
- Use a mild, bleach-free detergent when washing women’s and children’s bathing suits. Wash with cold water to avoid over-agitation in the water.
- Men’s swimsuits are usually made up of different man-made materials that can be safely washed in the washing machine. However, elastic waistbands may become brittle over time.
- Always lay your bathing suits flat to air dry.
*Tip
If you are using plastic bags to store your bathing suits, always use vacuum-sealed bags. The vacuum seal bag keeps out any air or moisture that can form unwanted mold or mildew.
Contact Red Hanger today for all dry cleaning needs for your summer apparel before storing them away for the year!