How To Clean Clothes That Have Been In Storage For A Long Time

Getting your seasonal wardrobe out of self storage? Here’s how to freshen up those threads so they’re ready for use again.

Self storage from Cambridge Self Storage is handy for all kinds of types of storage, including seasonal clothes storage. You can also store clothes you plan on selling, investment pieces, heirlooms and more. There is also a new breed of smart storage providers like Storing.com that are taking self-storage to a new level by offering collection and delivery services. They bring portable storage units to your home, pack all your stuff in them, security lock them and take them back to their secure warehouses. You can compare the cost of traditional self-storage with smart self-storage on this good storage price comparison table.

The problem is, despite careful preparation before packing, after a while in storage clothes will be a little crinkled, a little fusty because of the lack of fresh air. Without being checked, they might have even grown a little mouldy because they weren’t fully dry. They could also have been attacked by pests that came in with the clothes.

When you are removing your clothes from storage it is a great idea to leave time for proper cleaning before you put them back into your wardrobe, or put them up for sale. Here are a few tips on cleaning your clothes when you get them out of storage:

Utilise The Sunshine

When you remove the clothing, shake it out and hang it out outside in the sunshine. Whilst it is hanging, check it over for any mould or mildew damage caused by the clothing being damp in storage. You may need to scrub away any mould or mildew that is on your clothing. If it has made holes and eaten through the fabric, you may need to decide whether or not to throw it or have it repaired.

If there are stains in the fabric, use a stain removal product or try something natural, like this natural stain removal recipe. Then, rinse the fabric and allow the clothing to hang in the sun.

Even without stains, allowing the clothes to dry in the sun helps to kill bacteria and give them their first ‘freshen up’.

You can then allow the sun to dry the fabric right out which also kills bacteria naturally.

Give Them A Good Wash

Once you have checked them, applied stain removal and aired the clothes out, it’s time to give your clothes a really good wash. Follow the general instructions for the clothes and use a gentle softener and detergent to freshen them right up. Anything delicate or particularly valuable might be worth taking to a dry cleaners.

Declutter

Once your clothes are fresh and dry it could be worth decluttering them before placing them back into your wardrobe. Why store anything in your wardrobe that you don’t use? Instead, give away or sell items you don’t want, and only put clothing into the wardrobe that you do want.

Prepare The Next Load For Storing Well

If you are placing seasonal clothes into cheap self storage to switch with the items you just freshened up, do take care to:

• Clean and dry the storage containers in the unit (plastic tubs etc)
• Wash and dry the clothes before storing
• Declutter that season’s wardrobe before storing
• Place anti-moth bags in with the clothing you are storing in case there are some hidden eggs

It also makes sense to choose a great storage unit, like those available at Cambridge Self Storage. That way you can feel assured your clothes will be in a dry, clean unit that keeps your clothes safe until the next season.

Clothes Freshened Up With Ease

Using our tips above, you can quickly freshen up your stored clothes so they are ready to wear again. Just remember to take care when packing them up to re-store, so they have the best possible chance of being in great condition when you get them out again.