To keep your clothes smelling fresh in storage, start by ensuring they are clean, fully dry, and free from any lingering odors before packing them away. Use breathable fabric bags instead of plastic, as these allow air circulation, preventing moisture buildup and musty smells.
Incorporate natural fresheners like cedar wood blocks, lavender sachets, or activated charcoal packs to absorb odors and moisture. Additionally, store your clothes in a cool, dry place with good airflow, and periodically check on them to ensure they remain fresh.
Why do clothes smell after long storage?
Clothes can develop musty, stale, damp odours after being packed away in storage for a while. This is often caused by moisture getting trapped within fabrics and storage containers. Areas with excess humidity allow mold and mildew growth, which leads to bad smells permeating clothing, linens and other textiles.
Bacteria and dust mites also accumulate over time, breaking down fibers and organic debris within fabrics to produce foul odours. Plastic bins and garment bags can seal in existing sweat, oils, and grime if items weren’t washed first. Improper ventilation and tightly crammed storage spaces further lock in unwanted stenches.
Following proper clothing storage methods helps avoid strong unwanted odours from developing while keeping garments and fabrics smelling fresh. Implementing moisture control, using odour eliminating products, regularly airing out contents, and cleanly storing clean articles are all effective ways to maintain pleasant scents.
1. Air clothes before storage
Before putting your clothes into storage, it's essential to allow them to air out completely. This simple step helps prevent any lingering odors from being trapped in the fabric, which can intensify over time and leave your clothes smelling musty when you retrieve them later.
After washing, drying, or even wearing garments, give them time to air out in a well-ventilated space before packing them away. Hanging your clothes outdoors on a clothesline or indoors near an open window allows fresh air to circulate through the fabric, eliminating any residual odors. Even if your clothes appear clean, airing them out helps remove body oils, perfumes, and other odors that could attract mildew or pests in storage.
For best results, ensure the clothes are completely dry and fresh before placing them in storage containers or breathable fabric bags. This extra step ensures your stored garments will smell fresh and be ready to wear when you take them out of storage.
Preventing mildew growth in stored clothes starts with proper moisture control and ventilation, ensuring your garments stay dry and fresh during long-term storage.
2. Use a dehumidifier
Using a dehumidifier prevents humid conditions that breed smelly bacteria and mold growths. Portable electric or rechargeable dehumidifiers efficiently extract excess moisture from the air and condense it into tanks for easy draining. Just close storage unit doors after placing an appropriately sized dehumidifier inside.
For entire rooms, attics and basements, continuous pumping dehumidifiers will perpetually regulate optimal humidity levels down to 45-50%. This deprives mold colonies of needed moisture to multiply while limiting musty stenches within fabrics. Replace dehumidifier filters regularly so the units run efficiently at full odour fighting strength.
3. Pack with dryer sheets
Toss individual dryer sheets in between layers of clothing as a simple odour absorbing barrier. Dryer sheets infused with fresh linen and cotton scents adsorb smelly compounds and bad odours through negative ion exchanges. The cleaner scents take over to leave a light tropical breeze or morning laundry aroma embedded within fabrics.
Over time the pleasant fragrances will fade but the protective odour neutralizing effects remain intact. Periodically air out contents to restore potency. For stained or smelly shirt collars and armpits, pin dryer sheets securely in place to concentrate treatment. Moth repelling cedar blocks and scented charcoal packs also keep smells at bay.
4. Protect with cedar wood & natural oils
Essential oils like lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, cedarwood and lavender make fantastic natural odour eliminators for fabric storage. Just sprinkle a few drops directly onto clothing or cotton balls before sealing storage containers. The cleansing anti-fungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial volatile compounds prevent mildew and stinky feet smells from taking over.
For a concentrated solution, add several teaspoons of preferred essential oils into a spray bottle filled with purified or distilled water. Mist the oil infused water over stored items’ surfaces. The fresh notes will remain intact for months. You can also hang cotton pads soaked in oils or place open dishes filled with a water/oil mix inside storage bins.
For a natural and effective solution, you can use DIY fabric deodorizers to keep your clothes smelling fresh without relying on chemical-based products.
5. Include cedar wood chipping sachets
Red cedar wood sachets infused with cedar fragrances is commonly used for archival storage to preserve historical textiles and fabrics. The quality cedar adds a protective barrier that absorbs harmful pollutants and prevents oxidation while emitting a fresh aroma. This also prevents direct contact between stored items.
Tuck individual pieces of fragranced cedar sachets between clothing layers and blankets. Use it to line storage bins and box bottoms before loading them up. The earthly, cedarwood and other perfume notes transfer mildly onto contents. After unloading boxes, reuse the sachets for future storage purposes or composting.
6. Use activated charcoal packs
Activated charcoal is a highly effective, natural solution for keeping your clothes smelling fresh in storage. Charcoal has excellent absorbent properties, meaning it can trap and neutralize odors, moisture, and airborne pollutants that might otherwise accumulate in your storage space. By placing a few activated charcoal packs in your storage containers or closets, you create an environment that discourages the growth of mold, mildew, and other sources of unpleasant smells.
To use, simply distribute the charcoal packs evenly among your clothes, ensuring they are placed in areas where airflow might be limited or where moisture could collect. These packs work silently and continuously to keep your storage space dry and odor-free. For best results, replace the charcoal packs every few months, as their effectiveness can diminish over time.
Activated charcoal is a fantastic alternative to chemical-based fresheners, offering a non-toxic, eco-friendly option for maintaining a fresh scent in stored clothes.
7. Store clothes in breathable fabric bags
When it comes to storing clothes long-term, choosing the right type of storage bag is essential. Avoid using plastic bags, as they trap moisture and restrict airflow, creating an environment where odors, mold, and mildew can easily develop. Clothes stored in plastic bags are more likely to smell musty when retrieved and may suffer from moisture damage.
Instead, opt for breathable fabric bags made of cotton or linen. These materials allow air to circulate around your clothes, preventing moisture build-up and helping fabrics stay fresh over time. Cotton and linen are particularly useful for delicate fabrics like silk, lace, and wool, as they provide protection from dust and pests while still allowing the garments to breathe.
By storing your clothes in breathable fabric bags, you'll not only preserve their freshness but also protect them from damage, ensuring they remain in excellent condition while stored away.
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