If you have a large family, you may have so many clothes to deal with that you're running out of room to store them. A good solution is to rent a storage unit to hold off-season clothes so they stay safe and wrinkle-free without taking up space in your home. Here are some tips for storing clothing in a rental unit.

Rent A Climate-Controlled Unit

Fabrics store better when they're in a climate-controlled environment. The temperature doesn't have to be steady, but it should be kept in a range that avoids temperature extremes. Controlling the temperature also controls the humidity which can be damaging to clothing as well. Plus, a unit in a climate-controlled facility will be insulated so it might keep out bugs and dust better. By renting climate-controlled storage, you'll be able to store other things along with your clothing such as wood furniture or documents that would be damaged by temperature fluctuations and high humidity.

Clean And Dry Clothing Before Storing

Only put clean clothing in storage so stains don't set and so odors don't attract bugs. Plus, you'll appreciate picking up clothes that are clean and ready to wear when the seasons change. Most importantly, the clothing should be completely dry. While a climate-controlled unit keeps humidity down, putting damp clothes in the unit can cause the fabrics to mildew.

Keep this in mind if you have to move your clothing when it's raining. Protect the clothes and boxes to keep them dry. It's also good to stack the clothes on shelves or on pallets off of the floor so they won't get wet if the floor gets wet.

Pack The Clothing To Avoid Wrinkles

You don't want to pick up clothes full of wrinkles, so consider buying wardrobe boxes so you can hang some of your clothes. Heavy sweaters and stretchy fabrics should be folded and placed in plastic totes instead. Plastic protects clothing better than cardboard, but if you do use cardboard boxes, such as wardrobe boxes, cover them with a sheet to keep dust out and off your clothes. Dust shouldn't be too much of a problem in a climate-controlled unit, but if your clothes are in storage for months, they could get dusty unless they're protected.

Also, you may want to avoid using vacuum bags or sealing clothing tightly in plastic bags. Fabrics need to breathe to avoid damaging the fibers and so permanent creases don't develop. If you're changing out your stored clothing at the change of the seasons, and you rent a climate-controlled unit, your clothing should survive months in storage and be ready to wear when you take them home.