Most parents accumulate a lot of baby clothes because their children grow up too fast. Although many people choose to sell the clothes that their children no longer fit, there are others who prefer to save the clothes for their future children or even for their grandchildren. However, if baby clothes are not stored properly, they could be damaged and they may no longer be usable when you need them.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choose a container to store clothes
Step 1. Store the baby clothes in a cardboard box
Most people prefer to store baby clothes in a cardboard box, as it is easy to label, stack, and move. However, there is no guarantee that the clothes will be in perfect condition when removed.
- Cardboard boxes have to be placed in a dry place with low humidity, so that the clothes do not deteriorate due to humidity or mold, as this could damage them.
- Lining the inside of the cardboard box or tub with plastic bags is not recommended because these can also retain moisture, which, over time, will cause mold to grow.
Step 2. Use plastic tubs to store baby clothes
Like cardboard boxes, plastic tubs (with lids) are a good option for storing baby clothes, as they are compact and easy to transport. Some things to remember when using plastic tubs are:
- The plastic tub has to be kept out of the sunlight because the sun's rays can cause the exposed parts of the clothes to fade over time.
- Although plastic tubs keep air and dust outside, they can collect moisture. Therefore, it is important that baby clothes are thoroughly dry before storing them.
Step 3. Consider storing your clothes in an extra drawer on a dresser
If there are any drawers that you don't use, you can store the baby's clothes there. Unfortunately, most do not have much space in their dressers and those that do can have it in different rooms, which will make it difficult to organize clothes.
Step 4. Hang clothes that you can't store in boxes
Hanging your baby's clothes for a whole year can take up a lot of space because it is very small and the hangers are quite thick. This method should only be used to store some items that could not be stored stretched out in a drawer or box.
Step 5. Put the clothes in vacuum-sealed plastic bags
Plastic bags are handy for storing baby clothes, especially when you want to vacuum pack. Vacuum packed clothes are well protected from dust and mold and take up less space than boxes. However, it could be very wrinkled when you take it out.
Part 2 of 3: Prepare Clothes for Storage
Step 1. Decide what clothes are in proper storage condition
Check all the baby's clothes before packing them and get rid of any that are damaged or stained. You should only keep clothes that are well preserved.
Step 2. Make sure you clean all clothing before putting it away
Storing clothes that are not very clean is guaranteeing a disaster. Dirty baby clothes, especially those with food scraps on them, could attract a variety of critters that could eat the material, nest in it, or leave stains everywhere.
- If you store your clothes in a garage, warehouse, or attic where not many people go, mice, rats, and other large vermin could come in to eat the bugs or the food on your clothes.
- Also, any type of dirt on your clothes could leave stains over time.
Step 3. Wash the clothes according to the instructions on the label
All baby clothes should be washed and dried according to the instructions on the label. If it doesn't have a label, then it may be safe to wash and dry it along with other items made from the same type of material.
Step 4. Decide if you want to iron the clothes before putting them away
Ironing your clothes before putting them away is optional, because they are likely to wrinkle over time anyway (even if you hang them in a protective bag). There are also some vermin that might be attracted to the scent of powdered starch used to iron baby clothes.
Step 5. Remove all metal buttons from garments
Over time, metal buttons rust and leave stains. Therefore, you should remove them and store them in a separate box. Keep this box in a safe place so that you can replace the buttons later.
Step 6. Sort the clothes into different boxes or bags
It is advisable to separate your clothes into different categories so that you can find them easily in the future. You can classify it according to its size (0-6 months, 6-12 months, etc.) or according to the season (summer and winter clothes).
Part 3 of 3: Keep Clothes Clean and Tidy
Step 1. Put the clothes on stretched out if possible
Although you could store more clothing in a container if you fold it, it is best if you lay it out stretched so that it stores with the fewest number of folds. This is very important, as the pressure of stacked folded garments could create wrinkles over time, which will be very difficult to remove.
Step 2. Fold clothes in places where wrinkles are less noticeable
If you have to fold your clothes to fit in the container, try to do it in places where the wrinkles are not as noticeable.
- Dresses or tops of any type can be folded at the shoulder, where the sleeves are sewn, or at the waist line.
- Pants must be folded lengthwise. Dress pants should be folded at the seams because this is usually where they wrinkle.
- If possible, do not bend it in places where there will be a lot of pressure, such as on the knees, because they could deteriorate faster.
Step 3. Prevent pests from destroying stored clothing
To help keep pests, insects, and vermin away from stored clothing, you can put a few mothballs or special pieces of cedar along with your clothing. Both give off an odor that repels most pests.
- When you put these pest repellants in the cardboard box or plastic tub, it is important that you make sure that they are not in contact with the clothes because they could end up staining them.
- It is better to cover the garments with an old towel and put the repellent on it, so that it does not touch the clothes.
Step 4. Choose the place where you will keep the clothes
The place where you keep the baby clothes has to be dark and dry, so that the clothes are not damaged by humidity or light. Moisture can cause mold to grow, and light can cause clothing to become discolored.
- Avoid places with extreme temperature differences, such as attics or garages.
- It is best to choose an interior room, away from heat vents or exterior walls, to avoid damage to clothing. For example, under the bed or above the closet.
Step 5. Check your clothes every six months
Even if you have taken all the aforementioned safety measures to ensure that the clothes are in good condition when you take them out, it is possible that some peculiar circumstance ends up ruining them. Therefore, it is very important that you check the condition of the stored clothes from time to time.
- It is difficult to determine how often you should check the stored clothes, but most problems appear in the first few months.
- After that time, you can check the clothes every six months.