Bulky Sweater Storage Ideas

When the sun starts warming the days again, our winter sweaters may need to take their rest after months of hugging our bodies keeping us warm. But before you toss your sweaters anywhere, make sure you’re providing a healthy home for them.

If you have no idea where and how to store your sweaters, this article will help. Read on for some easy bulky sweater storage ideas that you can use to keep winter sweaters safe until you need them again. How to organize winter sweaters in the very best way.

Bulky sweater storage ideas

When summer hits and that lovely warm air pushes out the winter cold, that is our cue to bring out our shorts, T-shirts, and summer gear.

This is also when we say our temporary goodbyes to our winter sweaters and tuck them away until the snow returns.

Tossing your sweaters in a big plastic bin may be a quick fix, but it will also take a toll on our things. And let’s face it, clothes are expensive, so finding a way to store your out-of-season clothing is not only convenient, but it’s also a great way to save money.

By taking care to store winter clothes the right way, it will pay off by helping your clothes last longer and keep them in good condition.

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What is the proper way to store winter clothes?

As with anything you are packing away, you will want to protect your things from outside elements. Things like the weather, dampness, or pests, to name a few. The container you choose will all depend on the area you plan to keep your things.

Bulky Sweater Storage Ideas

The struggle of having too little closet space is real for many of us. We don’t have the room to keep our entire wardrobe in our closets and dressers year-round. And that means we need to get creative.

Creative, as in using totes to keep our clothes safely tucked away in odd spaces.

  • Under the bed in plastic roller totes.
  • On a top closet shelf in zipper bags.
zipper bags holding out of season clothes on a closet shelf
  • In a linen closet
  • In the attic
  • In a basement
  • In a crawl space

It’s true that I am not going to share a new secret for storing your clothes, but I am going to help you choose the best option so your things last year after year.

Declutter What You Have

Many times what we have is more than what we need, and you may be surprised at how much room you can save by removing extra things you no longer wear. 

Before you can store, you first need to declutter.

This step is important as it will save you from using space that you may be short on right now.

a woman sorting through clothes in a bedroom in boxes, declutter and keep

Go through your sweaters one at a time. Your goal is to set aside anything you want to keep. Those pieces that you love to wear and find yourself reaching for over and over again.

Once finished, go through the items that are left. Toss what is damaged and donate what is not.

Wash Before You Store

By making sure your pieces are cleaned, you will help to preserve your sweaters in the best condition. This will also keep your clothes smelling fresher until you get them out again.

Another reason to only store cleaned items is to keep moths and other pests away.

After washing, take some time to make any repairs that are needed. Fix snags, replace zippers, and add a missing or broken button. 

Protect Sweaters From Pests, Moths, and Odors

Washing your bulky sweaters may protect them from odor, pests, and moths, but this is just the first layer of protection for your clothes. 

For additional protective measures, you may want to add pest deterrents to your clothes.

Pest Deterrents for Clothes:

  • Cedar blocks or rings 
  • Lavender sachets
  • Cloth satchels with aromatic dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary, cloves, or thyme.

To use, place a few into your storage container before packing away. This will also work for linens, sleeping bags, or blankets.

Is It Better to Hang or Fold Sweaters?

You should fold natural fabrics according to the general rule because these types of sweaters are prone to stretching. Because of this, you will want to fold anything that could stretch or lose its shape when hung.

Materials to Fold:

  • Hand-knit sweaters 
  • Coats made of wool
  • Bulky sweaters 
  • Sweaters or coats made of delicate material 

To further protect delicates, fold them with acid-free tissue paper to prevent snagging and other damage. 

Sometimes our winter things will do better hung up rather than folded.

Materials to Hang:

  • Outdoor coats
  • Cold weather pleated skirts
  • Suits

To keep these items intact, invest in heavy-duty hangers that will stand up to the weight of these bulky items. Another tool to consider is garment bags to keep dust off your things and sunlight from fading.

Garment bags with clothes on rack in a closet

Bulky Sweaters Storage Ideas

Now that your winter wear is prepped and ready to be stored, let’s talk about different storage ideas you can use to keep these things put away.

Plastic totes

This option is good for attics, basements, or other storage areas where the elements can affect the clothing inside. Using sealed plastic totes will prevent water damage, extreme heat or cold, and other mishaps that can happen in these spaces.

You can use clear bins to help you easily see and identify what you’re storing inside.

One of the best storage solutions and ways to is by packing similar clothes together and using labels for each bin. Labels are super helpful as they will let you know what is inside without having to look and see.

My best advice is to be thorough with your labeling. Instead of saying “Winter Sweaters,” you can give a quick list of the sweaters themselves. Yes, I know this will take extra time now, but when you need a certain piece, it will save you loads of time.

Plastic Zipper Comforter Bags/ Vacuum Sealed Bags

When storing winter apparel, a great option to consider is vacuum bags and airtight storage bins.

This option is good for closet shelves, a linen closet, or another dry area in your home. I prefer to use bags that have “windows” as they help me to quickly see what is inside. If a window bag is not an option for you, be sure to use index labels so you know what you have stored inside of each container.

a close up picture of a zipper storage bag fill with summer clothes

Under Bed Storage Bins 

I love to use the space under our bed to store out-of-season clothing. And under the bed storage bins will help you to take full advantage of this space.

You can use plastic or canvas; either will work perfectly well. A king-size bed can store 3-4 of these bins comfortably, giving you ample space for your clothes and your spouse as well.

Small Storage Bins

These bins work great for other winter wear. Things like gloves, hats, scarves, and even boots will all work well in their own containers.

You can keep these bins on a closet shelf, in a linen closet, or in another storage area.

Bonus Storage Tips

  • When storing your bulky sweaters, avoid cramming things inside your container. Give your things room to breathe so you can help them to stay in their best shape.
  • If your only option for storage is a basement or attic, be sure to use containers that will keep your things protected from the elements.
  • You can be creative and use suitcases or other luggage as storage. Once full, you can then keep them on a closet shelf, on the floor in your closet, or under your bed. 
  • Labeling bins is a huge time saver when storing anything in your home. Rather than a generic label, opt to use an index of a few, or all, of the sweaters you have stored inside.

By using a solid container you can relax knowing that your winter clothes will stay clean, dry, and protected this season. 

a woman holding a peach colored sweater on a wooden hanger

Before you go, I have one last tip.

Keep a few outfits in your closet just in case you have a cold snap hit in May.

When it comes to our clothes finding safe ways to keep them put away is always a good idea. And when it comes to bulky sweater storage ideas, these tips may be just what you need to keep your winter things streamlined in a way that is easy to keep up with.

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