Families warned they could be ruining their winter clothes

How to store your winter clothes this season

Households are being told they could be damaging their winter clothes with hangers and vacuum pack storage bags.

Storage experts at OnlineBedrooms.co.uk have shared five tips to help avoid ruining clothes and optimise storage space.

Clothing items such as bulky jumpers, coats and knitwear can take up significant space in the wardrobe in comparison to summer clothes which is why it’s important to know how to store them correctly.

The experts say that good airflow is key and that overcrowding clothes can create musty odours.

To avoid this, they have shared their advice on how to maximise space and properly store winter clothes without damaging them.

Cat Wiltshire from OnlineBedrooms.co.uk said “When it comes to storing thicker winter clothes, it’s important to maximise the space you have while keeping your clothes in the best condition possible.

“Although bikinis and other summer clothes don’t look like they take up much space, you should consider storing them away during the colder months, creating more room for your thicker winter wardrobe.

“Store thicker items strategically to avoid overcrowding and use smart folding techniques or over door hanging shelves to help maximise storage space for your winter clothes.”

Here are five tips to help store winter clothing:

1. Jumpers

Bulky jumpers can be a tricky one to store but avoid using hangers as this can ruin their shape and stretch materials like wool and cotton. Instead, tactically fold jumpers into drawers or consider using wardrobe boxes.

2. Coats 

Overcrowding coats can cause them to lose shape over time so be mindful of how many you’re storing in one place. Coats also need room for ventilation once they’ve been worn in rain and snow meaning overcrowding could potentially lead to a must odour. To space out your coats, try keeping ones that you wear frequently near the door on hooks or a coat stand and store any others in the wardrobe.

3. Accessories

Scarves, hats and gloves can take up a lot of space if you’re storing them in a drawer. Try saving room by nesting them and folding the gloves into the hat before putting them away in the drawer. If you don’t have space in a drawer for these accessories, installing hanging baskets on the back of doors can be a great way to store these items.

4. Seasonal rotation

Swapping out your summer clothes from your wardrobe can free up some space for any thicker items that need priority during the colder months. Pack away all bikinis, beachwear or summer dresses which are taking up unnecessary space.

5. Be mindful what you vacuum pack

Vacuum packing clothes is a popular solution but it shouldn’t be used for all clothing. Avoid vacuum packing delicate fabrics such as silk, lace and velvet. Synthetic fabrics usually handle the compression better and are less likely to be damaged.