Guidelines for storing linen clothing and bedding

Linen and bedding is something we all use and have in our homes. It is also something that spends quite a bit of time out of use – you’re never really using all of your sheets at the same time, after all. So storing linen clothing and bedding is actually something you should know more about. Whether you’re putting your extra bedding in self storage Seattle for the winter or simply using the extra space in your attic to keep things out of the way, there are certain steps you should take to keep your linen and bedding in good condition during storage.

Prepare for storing linen clothing and bedding

While your things are in storage, they are not being used. So they’re not being given the care they would get while in your home – you’re not dusting them, cleaning them, checking them for damage, repairing them. For this reason, before you put anything in Issaquah self storage, you need to prepare it for the time it’ll spend out of commission. Making sure that your belongings are in the best possible condition before going into storage ensures that they come out of storage still useable. And fabrics, whether they are clothing or sheets or canvases, are no exception to this rule. You must first prepare them for storage and only then put them away.

Do the laundry

Before you store any clothing or bedding, you should wash everything first. Even if you’re not using Shoreline self storage for your seasonal clothes and sheets and are simply planning on leaving them in the back of the closet or in the attic during winter, you always want to store fabric clean. If you put away your fabrics when they’re dirty, any stains on them can easily become permanent, debris might cause tears, and bad odors will seep into the textile until you can never remove them again. So it’s very important to make sure that any clothing or linen you’re storing is freshly washed and clean.

After you’ve done the laundry but before you start packing for storage, make sure everything is completely dry. Moisture is not an uncommon problem in storage and it can be absolutely devastating when storing textiles. Mold, mildew, and rot are big problems for fabric that’s left wet for a long time. And even if your clothes and bedding dry off in storage, the wet fabric will stain more easily as well as attract dust and debris. If at all possible, air-dry your linen outside, letting in breathe in the sun and fresh air for extra freshness. If not, use a dryer. But run it until you’re positive everything is completely dry.

Choose the right place for storage

When it comes to storage, especially long-term storage, where you put your belongings is going to make a huge difference. If you’re relying on Seattle mini storage, you will have the choice of climate-controlled and non-climate controlled units. Climate controlled storage is recommended for all sensitive items and especially if you live in an area with a humid climate. It allows you to control the conditions within the unit and maintain optimal temperature and air dryness.

If you choose a non-climate controlled unit or plan on storing your linen in your own home, find a dry and dark spot out of direct sunlight. This will best protect the fabric from the elements. You might even want to use a dehumidifier if you live in a humid climate.

Pack before storing linen clothing and bedding

Packing is a big part of preparing your clothes and sheets for storage. It’s the next step after you’ve washed, dried and when applicable, ironed them. But simply folding your bedding into a regular old moving box won’t do. Fabric requires a bit more care during packing.

Choose the right packing materials

It is very important to allow your fabric to breathe. For this reason, you want to avoid storing linen in plastic. This includes both plastic bags, plastic wrapping, and plastic containers. Storing fabric in plastic packaging can cause serious damage. If you trap even the tiniest bit of moisture in a plastic container, it’ll have nowhere to go. This can easily end with moldy sheets and clothes.

Avoid cardboard as well – it can turn your bedding yellow. Use breathable containers of natural materials instead. Special fabric storage bags exist specifically for this purpose. If you don’t want to spend money on those, canvas bags and large pillowcases are both good alternatives.

Maximize space

Even if you are renting a storage unit, you’ll still only have limited space to put all your belongings away. This can be a problem if you have a lot of linen and bedding to store or if that’s not the only thing you’re storing. So it’s best to pack your clothes and sheets in a way that minimizes the amount of space they take up.

Tightly folding the bedding and compressing it as much as possible will help. Rolling your bedding and tying it up with a ribbon is another idea. But if you’re really tight on space, you can also use vacuum bags. This is the only exception to the “no plastic” rule: because no air at all should be left in vacuum bags, there’s no risk of moisture. But because fabric should breathe, you should avoid vacuum bags if you’re storing clothes and sheets long term.

Maintain safety and freshness when storing linen clothing and bedding

No home or storage unit, no matter how clean, is entirely safe from dust. Dust attracts insects. And insects, especially moths, just love to live in and feed off of linen. So when you’re storing linen clothing and bedding, it is imperative that you do everything you can to ward from pests.

There are many moth repellents that you can buy in stores. Some are specifically intended to be used for linen. But lavender is an excellent natural way to get rid of moths that also happens to smell great. So it’ll maintain the freshness of your fabrics as well! You should also try storing your clothing and bedding off the ground. Not only is this cleaner, but it’ll also protect your linen in case of disasters like flooding.