It’s common to have more clothing than we have room for in our homes, especially if you live in a place with intense seasons. If your home is starting to feel cluttered and disorganized from the amount of clothing you have, consider renting a storage unit. Here are some ways you can protect your cherished pieces once they’re stored away. 

1. Wash everything first.
Before putting your clothing into boxes or garment bags, wash every piece. If you leave dirt, grime, or sweat on clothes for weeks or months on end, your clothing may be permanently damaged or altered when you retrieve it. 

2. Use garment bags, if possible.
Every article of clothing should have a garment bag, in a perfect world. But since this might not be possible, you should pick and choose your most valued and cherished pieces to go into individual garment bags. Wedding dresses, antique gowns, and passe down clothing are a few examples. 

3. Divide clothes by season.
If you’re storing clothes by season, pack like items together and label boxes so you can easily find things months down the road. If you want to go a step further, designate separate shelves to different seasons so you can easily find whatever you need.