The Do’s and Don’ts of Archiving

Goodbye Winter…Hello Spring!

Effective archiving will help you to eliminate clutter, provide valuable space in your cupboard and ensure your items remain fresh until they are needed again. Before you start, caste your eye over this handy checklist to make sure that you avoid the traps and make the most of your space!

DON’T store clothes you no longer need
Storage space is prime real estate so ensure you conserve room by storing only the big bulky ‘must keep’ essentials. Consider that kids do a whole lot of growing in a twelve month period, so unless you’re planning to hand clothes onto a sibling, there’s no point in hanging onto your child’s entire winter wardrobe for when the mercury drops next year. The same goes for you! If there are items in your wardrobe you no longer wear, donate, sell or toss them away.
DO wash your clothes prior to storing them.
Make no mistake, moths, ants and other bugs are searching for food and they’re headed straight to any stains that may be left on your clothing. Cleaning your clothes prior to packing them away will help ward off pests, not to mention ensure a pleasant experience when unpacking your favourite items next year. Word to the wise; ensure all your clothes are dried thoroughly prior to packing them away. Any wetness will attract mould and mildew.
DON’T use hangers for long-term storage
The fastest way to stretch your favourite knit beyond repair is by hanging it on a clothes hanger for a year. Carefully fold your archive items and group them into easy to access categories. Stack folded items from the lightest garment on top to the heaviest items on bottom and place them into an easi-store plastic tub or Space Bag.
DO choose a quality long-term storage solution
If you’re after a stackable solution, consider Howard’s durable easi-store tubs with wheels and locking lids. Alternatively our airtight, watertight, reusable Space Bag vacuum bags will triple your storage space. For shoes and boots, we have under-bed tubs that are ideal for archiving as they prevent crushing.
DO clean your storage area prior to packing away tubs/totes.
To get the best for your archived area, it needs to be a clean, cool, dark and most importantly a “dry” spot. Prolonged exposure to heat and light will affect many materials while any wetness will attract mould, mildew and insects.
DON’T abandon your stored clothing into oblivion.
Every now and then check on your archived items to ensure there are no issues. When you are ready to pull your clothes/blankets out of storage next year, give each item another quick wash before using them.
DO control moisture and bugs
When archiving clothes and homewares, keep humidity to a minimum as it causes mould, marks and odours. Howards have many different options to help you. Try Damp Rid or Cli-mate Sunsacks. To repel bugs, Cedar Fresh is a reliable natural choice.

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