Calgary Home Repairs: Tips for Storing Clothing

As you gear up for a new season of fashion, your clothes from the last one have to be stored away somewhere. Like many other people, your closet simply does not have enough room to contain all of your winter jackets, bathing suits, and snorkeling gear, all in tiny storage space. To mitigate the space problem that many homeowners with small to medium-sized closets run into, there are intelligent storage solutions in Calgary to create more room and protect clothes from preventable damages.

Bins

Storage bins are an ideal method of keeping out-of-season items out of the way—store bins in different areas in your home. Bins can fit in the tops of closets, under beds, and in places in basements or garages. If you suspect that a site might be damaged by water or any elements, consider storing your clothing elsewhere despite being inside a bin with a lid.

Before storing any items, make sure to wash and dry everything thoroughly, including the bin. Prepare the container with a mild disinfectant and then wipe dry before adding any clothing. The best way to store items in bins is by colour and rolling. Rolling the clothing ensures that no hard creases will damage or weaken the fabric. Adding items by colour ensures that no colour transfer will happen during storage. If you have to place two different coloured items side by side, consider adding acid-free tissue paper as a barrier between them.

Plastic PP or #5

While plastic seems tough, it can break down just like any other material and damage your clothing. When choosing a bin to keep your clothing safe in its off-season, look for options with a PP or the #5 in the recycle symbol of the bin. These markers ensure that the compounds in the plastic will not break down and leech into your clothing.

Hangers

Many people choose simple home renovations in Calgary to increase their storage space. Carpenters and designers at Handyman Connection in Calgary can help blueprint the areas that can most easily be transformed into storage for your hanging clothing. Once you decide on a site dedicated to hanging storage, be sure to outfit it with the correct hangers to keep your items in pristine shape. Just remember that Auntie Joan always said, “No more wire hangers,” and keep them out of your storage closet to prevent rust marks and hard creases.

Flocked or Wooden

Rather than wire hangers, choose options that suit the clothing you are storing. Wooden hangers are durable enough to hold a floor-length coat or a heavy-duty snowsuit during the summer months. For lighter, more delicate clothing, a flocked hanger helps keep the shape of the shoulders without the item slipping off and landing on the ground.

Hanging Storage Bags

If the area you have chosen to store your hanging items isn’t all the way finished, make sure that you use hanging storage bags to provide additional protection for your clothing from the elements and shifting conditions. Insects, moisture, and varying temperatures can cause damage to your clothing, even in a hanging bag, if you do not plan correctly. Hanging storage bags can protect against dust, too.

Cotton or Cases

Using plastic hanging bags can create mould or mildew. Most mould or mildew that forms for an entire off-season is unlikely to come out in the wash. Choose 100% cotton hanging bags to care for your clothing while in storage. Start with old cotton pillowcases if you do not want to collect cotton storage bags immediately. Your clothes will thank you when you unzip the bag for their seasonal debut.

Contact Handyman Connection today for more information about remodeling and renovation in Calgary.