Where do you keep your seasonal clothes? The ideal situation is to store clothing from all seasons together, but not everyone can do that. If you have a huge closet with plenty of storage space, this may not be a problem. For those of us who don’t have large closets and not that much storage, we have to get creative when we change our wardrobe twice a year.

Spring is here and it’s time for a wardrobe change. Warmer weather means we can store warm sweaters, fleece pants, and bulky coats. Short sleeves, jackets and other lightweight clothing can now come out and play.

It’s a good time to do a purge while you put away your seasonal winter clothes. The less you have to store, the less space is required.

Maybe you can take this opportunity to host a clothing swap party with your family and friends. This is kind of a double edged sword as you may end up with more clothes! Try to keep in mind that you are trying to reduce the amount of your clothes. Once the trade is made, all the items that no one wants are usually donated to a favorite charity.

After doing a seasonal clothing purge, you need a few options for off-season clothing storage to keep your seasonal clothing easily accessible. The option you choose will be specific to your situation.

Before storing any type of clothing for a long period of time, make sure it is clean and dry. It’s also a good idea to put lavender sachets in the container to keep moths away (moths hate lavender) and to keep clothes smelling fresh.

Check out the options below for ideas that fit your situation.

• Space Bags: There are several companies that sell space bags. If you are not familiar with these, they are plastic bags for storing clothing and bedding. Put the items into the bag, then suck out the air, and then seal it with the attached stopper. They are ideal for bulky items to store in small spaces.
• Under Bed Storage Bins: Some beds have built-in drawers, if yours doesn’t, there are under bed storage bins that work the same way. They are flat, have lids, and some even have wheels for easy access. They work well for storing seasonal clothing.
• Basement: This option is a bit tricky. Some basements are damp and moldy, so I would not recommend clothing storage for these types of basements. For others that are dry, plastic containers work well, as long as the clothes are clean and dry, and place lavender sachets in the containers to keep moths out and keep your clothes smelling fresh as mentioned above. Cabinets also work well on dry bases. I have one in my basement that I use to hang seasonal clothes and have never had a problem.
• Cedar Dressers and Closets – This is a wonderful option for long-term clothing storage. Moths hate cedar too, so it’s built-in protection! Some people don’t like the smell of cedar, so it’s a preference, but it’s still a good option.
• Off-site storage: There are companies that will store seasonal clothing for a fee. These companies are usually a dry cleaning service that will stock your seasonal clothing at their locations. If this is something that interests you, look for this service in your area. The other option for off-site clothing storage is a public storage unit. If this is an option that may work for you, consider the above tips for storing clothes in a basement. This may be a better option for storing clothes.