Drawers, hanging in closets, folded on shelves, or in piles on the floor – what is the best way to store your clothing? Does it really matter?
Actually – it does.
Storing your clothing properly helps preserve the life of your clothes, which adds up to savings for you since you’ll spend less on clothing (and will be able to resell the items when you no longer want them.)
So when it’s time to do laundry keep these 5 tips in mind to help you make the most of your storage space while also preserving the integrity of your clothing items.
Store Like Items Together
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it really does help. Not only will storing like-items together help you find what you want quickly, but it also prevents delicate fabrics from getting snagged on a jacket zipper, or buttons from a dress shirt from getting caught on the strings of a dress. Keep all of your like items with other like items.
Items to Hang Up
If it is delicate, fancy, or very sturdy – hang it up! Delicate items like dresses, skirts, and yes – lingerie – should be hung up to protect them. Sturdy, structured pieces like coats and blazers should also be hung up to help them keep their shape and avoid getting snagged on your everyday items.
Items to Stack
Thick items, or very durable items, should be folded and stacked on shelves. These items are too bulky to go in a drawer, but do not need to be hung up. Items in this category include sweaters, jeans, and other denim.
These thicker items won’t slump, crinkle, or lose their shape from being stacked, which makes them perfect for storing on shelves. They’ll also save you a ton of room for your other clothes!
Items to Roll
Are you rolling your clothing? If not, you should consider it if storage space is tight. T-shirts, pajamas, leggings, and workout clothes can all be rolled and tucked into storage boxes or drawers. If you do it right, this can be a major space-saver! Instead of folding and stacking (and digging through them later), take any soft, thin clothing, fold it in half, and roll it into neat little tubes.
Then store the tubes vertically, and you should be able to tell what the item is (or pretty close to it) without digging through a stack of clothing.
You can also tuck your rolled clothing into an empty shoe box and slide that into a drawer, if that is easier. If you don’t have a dresser, or only have a very small one, this rolling method also works well for wire baskets or bins that are stored in the closet or on shelves.
When the clothing is rolled, it also helps keep it from getting caught on the drawer and snagging. So not only does it take up less space, but it also helps protect your clothes!
Items for Drawers
Socks and undergarments are perfect for drawers. If you’re like most people, you toss your undies in and walk away. That’s fine – until you need a pair of socks but can’t find them. Drawer dividers work perfectly to help with this. Search for drawer dividers specifically for underthings and socks to find one that will work for your space.
Drawer dividers make everything much easier to see. To get the maximum impact from utilizing a drawer divider, roll your socks and underwear before placing them in the divider.
Hopefully these five tips taught you a new method or two for storing your clothing. Properly storing your clothing helps keep it in tip-top shape and hopefully frees up additional storage space for you. It also protects your clothing from wear and tear, keeping it in better condition.
