10 Tips For Storing Seasonal Clothes, According To Professional Organizers
Expert advice for a seamless seasonal closet swap.
In a perfect world, we would all have massive closets with unlimited space. However, that isn’t most people’s reality. Instead, to make the most of the valuable real estate in our closets and dressers, we swap out our clothing with the seasons.
When summer comes to a close, especially in regions of the South that reach cold temperatures, tank tops and shorts are traded for cozy sweaters and thick pants. Then, when the nip in the air begins to fade, we break out the warm weather wardrobe all over again. And so the cycle repeats. No matter how many times we do it though, switching out clothes for the season can be tedious, and mistakes tend to happen along the way.
To make the transition easier and more seamless, professional organizers have divulged their most-loved tips for swapping and storing seasonal clothing. Use these expert tips to avoid overflowing, out-of-season closets.
Courtesy of Systems by Susie
Meet The Expert
Susie Salinas is the owner and lead organizer for Systems by Susie in Annapolis, Maryland.
Logan Alderman is the owner of Orderly SC in Greenville, South Carolina.
Megan Ludvinsky is the lead professional organizer and personal concierge for About Space® Organizing in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Let The Weather Guide You
Professional organizers Susie Salinas, Logan Alderman, and Megan Ludvinsky agree that there’s no set date that the entirety of the South should mark on their calendars for swapping out their clothes. Rather, timing will depend on where you live and the seasonal weather there.
When the weather hits a transitional point and the clothes you have available don’t quite match what’s outside, that’s your cue that your closet may be a bit behind the times. Luckily, you shouldn’t have to make this swap too often.
“Depending on where you live, you can usually switch twice a year,” reveals Alderman. “Switch when the weather warms up in spring and summer and again when it cools down in fall and winter.”
Edit Down
Before you actually get to the storing bit, Salinas recommends taking stock of your newly out-of-season wardrobe.
“I always recommend starting your seasonal swap by doing an edit of your clothing from the past season. Anything you don't love or didn't wear needs to be donated and not stored for another year,” she says. “The goal is to clear space in your closet for what fits and looks good so that your closet is filled with all your favorite clothes. You don’t have to be a minimalist, but be intentional about what you keep.”
Ludvinsky suggests looking out for pieces that were not even worn that season, garments with stains or damage, and clothes that no longer match your personal style. Salinas, who schedules a donation pick-up before swapping her closet to keep herself accountable, even has a trick for identifying which garments have gone untouched.
“Start out each season with all your hangers backward,” she recommends. “Every time you wear an item, place it back the correct way. At the end of a season, you’ll know exactly what you wore and what didn’t make the cut.”
Keep It Fresh
You’re just about ready to store your clothes, but before you do, the experts recommend one final step in preparation: wash them.
“Make sure that everything is clean,” says Ludvinsky, “If you have a stain that you didn't notice it will get darker and it will set in while in storage”
Upon washing your clothes and storing them, Ludvinsky has one more trick up her sleeve. Her secret to keeping tucked-away clothes fresh all season long involves the addition of a super common household item: dryer sheets. In each storage bin full of clothes, throw in a dryer sheet to ward off musty smells. Clothes may also need to be washed again after coming out of storage.
Keep It Simple
“Keep it simple. If your main closet can’t fit clothes for all seasons, try storing out-of-season clothes in a max of three areas in your house,” recommends Alderman. “This way, you’re not running around trying to remember where all of your clothes were stored and risk forgetting where some items are stored.”
Lock Out The Elements
All three organizers agree that under the bed is their favorite place for out-of-season clothing storage. When possible, avoid long-term storage in places like the garage or an unfinished attic or basement without climate control.
“Keeping clothes in a climate-controlled environment is best,” says Alderman. “On top of a closet, under the bed, or in a guest closet are all great options. Clothes are usually fine if stored in a non-climate controlled area for up to a year, but leaving them there for longer than a year is not recommended.”
Especially if your home isn’t able to accommodate storage in a climate-controlled area, weathertight bins are helpful for keeping out moisture, as well as critters.
Protect Your Clothes
“For nice sweaters, you can put tissue paper in between each one or store them in a clothes storage bag,” says Salinas. “You can also buy zippered hanging bags or an enclosed garment rack to store dresses and coats in an off-season closet.”
Alderman also recommends protecting special garments by wrapping them in acid-free tissue to prevent yellowing and staining.
Store Like With Like
“Everyone has their threshold of organizing. Some people are okay as long as similar things are stored together,” says Ludvinsky.
This is the bare minimum to keep things organized. If you’re up for a bit more arranging, keeping items categorized will make them much easier to locate, and later, unpack back into your closet during your next seasonal swap.
Easy Access
Another reason why organizers love storing clothes under the bed is because then, even off-season clothes are never too far. Whether there’s an unexpected change in the weather, an upcoming vacation to pack for, or it’s time to swap out your closet once again, your clothes will always be close by.
To further promote easy access, Alderman recommends labeling storage bins or, better yet, clear bins can be very useful for seeing what’s inside.
Label Everything
“I typically store my off-season clothes in clear weather-tight bins labeled ‘Seasonal Tops,’ ‘Seasonal Bottoms,’ and ‘Seasonal Shoes,’” says Salinas “Labeling is key. Adhesive pouches are my favorite way to label storage bins.”
Rotate Seasonal Accessories, Too
Clothes aren’t the only pieces that necessitate a seasonal swap. Shoes and accessories should undergo the same transition, says Ludvinsky. For instance, hats, scarves, and gloves for chilly weather don’t need to share a space with bathing suits and flip-flops. Follow the same tips to shift seasonal accessories like a pro.
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