Do you have free time right now? Then it might be a good moment to go through the closet – and get rid of clothes that are just too airy. How to do it well.
Mainz/Senden – winter clothes in, summer clothes out – and vice versa. With a seasonal change in your closet, you can keep track of things. Garments can be cleared out immediately – or prepared for the next year.
Outsourcing summer and winter clothing is particularly worthwhile for people with a small wardrobe. Because things quickly pile up here, right up to the ceiling.
But what’s the best way to go about it?
Everything that is stored must be washed and dried. “Otherwise, dirt settles in and mold stains appear,” says Sabine Haag, organizational coach from Mainz.
In the case of jackets that have been worn very little, however, “regular airing can also be sufficient to store the clothing,” says fashion consultant Sonja Grau from Senden near Ulm. Because jackets and coats are not worn directly on the skin.
Shoes should also be clean before they are put away. Care includes shoe polish, waterproofing spray and intact soles and heels.
lid on it
Most clothes fit in cardboard boxes or crates made of plastic or cotton. They should have a lid to protect the textiles from dust. Cotton bins and cardboard boxes have the benefit of allowing some air into the clothes. Because, according to Sonja Grau, it should be able to “breathe”.
The way in which the boxes are packed depends on personal preferences. Grau recommends sorting according to the type of clothing and materials: thick, thin, very thin. Or according to models: long-sleeved, short-sleeved or sleeveless tops.
Haag then packs the respective box according to the so-called “file folding principle”. That means: “Each item of clothing is folded into a packet and sorted upright one behind the other.”
To protect against moths, Grau advises using tried and tested means such as cedar wood plates. They should be distributed in different places next to the clothing.
Vacuum bags save space
The boxes in which they were purchased are suitable for shoes. To keep track, Grau advises labeling them. A shelf for outsourced shoes is also useful. “The respective pair of shoes should not be next to each other, but opposite each other – one tip, one heel,” says Grau. This creates fewer empty spaces. Boots can be placed opposite. “The heavy boots on the bottom and the lighter ones on top,” advises the fashion consultant.
Another space-saving solution is vacuuming. Vacuum bags seal the clothing airtight, the excess air is sucked out here through a valve. This makes the laundry small, handy and hygienic. Moths and other pests cannot enter.
“You can put a handkerchief with your favorite perfume or a lavender sachet in the vacuum bag,” recommends Haag. “The laundry smells fresh when you open the bags again.”
But be careful: It is better not to pack clothes in vacuum bags. “They’re being squeezed too much in here,” says Haag. Just like fine blouses and shirts, these items must also be hung up during storage, preferably in a loose protective cover.
Choose a dry, dark place
The bags and boxes are then best stowed under the bed or on the closet. A place on the shelf in a less frequently used part of the apartment is also possible.
“It is very important that the storage area is dry and shady,” says Grau. Moisture and UV light can damage clothing. “Basements are only suitable for storing clothes when they are dry,” says the fashion consultant. Otherwise there is a high risk that the clothing will take on a musty smell or mold will form.
Another problem in basements and attics is fluctuating temperatures, which is why Haag advises against this place. “Winter jackets and ski jackets should also be stored in the apartment, for example in a drawer under the bed.”
Unpacking and sorting of winter clothes
If the clothes are unpacked for the next season, you can put them in the dryer for ten minutes together with a tennis ball. “The ball loosens up wool and fleece items and down jackets in particular,” says Haag.
Tights can be rolled up from the foot up and sorted by color and put upright in drawers, advises Haag. An alternative from fashion consultant Grau: “Fold up small and stack.”
Sabine Haag puts thick sweaters on end instead of on top of each other – either in a drawer or in a larger box in the wardrobe. Sonja Grau rolls up the sleeves and folds sweaters once to stack them on top of each other to save space. When it comes to woolen clothes, she advises: Always “fold them together loosely, never hang them up.” Otherwise the shape will suffer.
By the way: According to Grau, you get a good overview of scarves by hanging them in a large ring. So you can quickly see which colors and patterns are available. She recommends one ring hanger for thicker scarves and one for lighter ones. At the organization expert Haag, scarves are halved lengthways, rolled up and placed in the drawer as a small package. “If you want, you can put the matching hat on top. That keeps them together better.” dpa
