Is your garage a safe place to store off-season clothing? The experts speak

If closets aren't large enough to accommodate your all-season wardrobe, it's time to find storage space for off-season clothes in other areas of your home. Should your garage be included?

"Storing off-season clothing in the garage can be a practical way to save space, especially in homes in the South, as there may not be enough storage space in the home," says Maria Anderson, a cleaning and organizing expert based in Atlanta. who advises Henfield Storage.

But it's not as simple as adding a clothes rail or stacking old boxes or storage containers in a corner. We asked Anderson and several other professional organizers how to properly prepare, organize, and store your clothes in the garage for when you plan to wear them again.

Factors to consider before storing clothes in a garage

Before organizing alternative parking for your vehicle, tools and other household items to make room for your off-season wardrobe and accessories, Anderson warns: "Garages are not air-conditioned, so extreme temperatures and humidity can affect your clothing." This could lead to mold and fabric damage, he explains, unless you consider installing a dehumidifier and/or a small, energy-efficient air conditioner to regulate the humidity and temperature of your garage.

Storing items in a garage requires a bit of strategy, but it's especially important when it comes to clothing. In addition to air conditioning, you also have to worry about pests entering warehouses. And with all due respect to your cleaning skills, we're guessing the inside of your home is a lot cleaner than the inside of your garage. Therefore, you need storage boxes with sturdy lids that keep dust and dirt out.

Clean clothes before putting them away.

The first thing to remember is to use the garage as a giant closet and not a giant laundry basket. Properly cleaning and organizing clothes before putting them away can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on replacement items, says Angela O'Brien, professional organizer and founder of Your Space Reclaimed.

If this seems time-consuming and a bit expensive to you, especially when it comes to dry cleaning, you're right. O'Brien recommends only packing items that you plan to use again or that evoke an emotional connection. "You'll save time by not having to clean and store as many items, and you'll save money organizing containers and supplies if you do this step first," she says.

Take time to figure out the best way to store clothing, whether it's neatly folded in a bin or stored on a hanger. O'Brien recommends rolling clothes to minimize wrinkles or hanging them on durable, curved wooden hangers.

Don't just stock up on freshly cleaned clothes and call it a day, says O'Brien. "Be sure to remove the plastic bags covering your clothing for a day or two before storing them to ensure chemical odors from this process don't linger or become trapped," she advises.

Use sturdy containers and storage solutions.

"When storing items in a garage or unconditioned space, I highly recommend using weather-resistant containers," says Kris Hargrove, founder of Organized by Kris. "If you want to double the protection of your clothing, you can first put the items in storage bags and then throw them in the trash."

No matter which container you choose, make sure the lids close tightly. Although pests and moisture can get in through the tightest of cracks, your clothing will only be damaged if the covers don't stay in place.

Maximize and organize storage space

Briana and Erica Spruille, professional organizers and founders of Just BE LLC, consider vertical space "prime real estate" for storage, especially in a garage. Shelves, whether freestanding or wall mounted, are the quickest way to expand this space.

The organizing duo recommends measuring shelves not only so that they fit well in the room, but also so that individual storage bins and boxes stand well and stably on the shelves.

If you need short-term access to this storage, put the items you need least at the top.

Most organization experts recommend clear containers so you can easily see the contents inside. However, if this is not possible, clearly marked labels are the best solution. Labels are essential if you have multiple members in your household. However, no matter the size of your household, you will save time because you won't have to go through every trash can to find the clothes you're looking for.

O'Brien suggests grouping items of clothing by category or "in a way that gets your brain thinking about finding a specific item again." In short: organize your containers logically so you can easily find everything you need later.

Tips for protecting clothing in the garage

In a humid climate, Hargrove recommends adding desiccant packets to storage containers to keep clothes dry. To keep moths and other insects away, place cedar blocks or lavender sachets.

For added protection before shipping into storage containers, Anderson recommends placing clothing in vacuum-sealed bags beforehand, both to save space and to protect them from moisture and parasites such as moths or silverfish.

Whether you use hanging shelves or freestanding units, make sure there are no containers left on the floor. "Use shelves to raise them so that water spills do not cause water damage in the event of an accident or flood, which could be a problem in many parts of the South during heavy rain or extreme weather conditions," says Anderson.

Carry out a routine inspection

Storing items in your garage keeps them out of sight and out of mind, which could be harmful to your clothing if you don't realize they've been compromised by moisture or pests.

It's a good idea to check your storage once a month, if only to take a look at the boxes and make sure they have remained dry, clean and quiet. If not, examine them carefully to find out what the problem might be. The sooner you identify problems, the sooner you can fix them, which is especially helpful during times of high humidity and pest infestations.

If you know you'll be taking items out of storage in the coming days or weeks, you may want to do a final check to see how they performed in the off-season. It's unfortunate that something was damaged during storage, but at least this gives you time to replace seasonal clothing.

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