If closet space is a constant uphill battle for you, keeping all your large winter coats and accessories at home can feel like wasted real estate half the year. One no-brainer of a solution is to move your out-of-season clothing to a storage unit. You’ll have precious space throughout the warmer months, and when the leaves start turning in the fall, your clothes will still be fresh and ready to keep you cozy. Then your summer wardrobe can take winter’s place. Use these tips to stay organized and keep your clothes in pristine condition while they’re out of sight.

Guide for Seasonal Clothing Storage

1. Wash Everything First

Leaving dirt or sweat in clothing for months on end will age it prematurely and allow stains to set permanently. Wash your clothing and have dry-clean items professionally laundered. Do this even if you didn’t wear that particular item this season. You’ll know that everything is ready to wear when you pull it out once again.

2. Sort the Clothing

Before storing your items, sort them in a way that makes sense to you. When the next season rolls around again, you want to be able to easily pull out everything you’ll be wearing. For example, all your swimsuits and beach clothing can go together—when you’re ready to head out on that tropical vacation, you’ll only need a minute to find what you need.

3. Use the Right Storage Materials

Never store clothing in cardboard boxes or plastic bags, since these let in moisture and bugs. Many people who do this return to mildew-covered or otherwise damaged clothing. Instead, pack your clothing inside an airtight, sealed plastic container. Line the container with cotton sheets and place natural wood cedar balls inside to keep clothing fresh.

4. Decide Whether to Vacuum Seal

Vacuum-seal bags compress clothing so you can fit a high volume in a much smaller space. It’s not recommended for sentimental items or clothing you’ll be storing for years since compressing the clothing fibers for too long could cause permanent damage. It is, however, a great choice for bulky winter clothes that you’ll just be putting away until the following season.

5. Label, Label, Label

Labeling is key for everything you put into your unit, and clothing is no exception. If you’re looking for a particular item, it should be easy to find without opening and digging through a container. Label everything with the appropriate season, then include a list of what’s inside. When you place the container in the storage rental, position it so that you can easily see the list.

When you’re running out of room at home, Carolina Self Storage makes reclaiming that extra space convenient and affordable. Their clean and gated facility in Archdale, NC, has storage units in five different sizes so you can find one to suit your needs. Contact them online or at (336) 434-4367 to get pricing on their available unit options.