Top Tips For Keeping Your Clothes Smelling Fresh In Storage

Accumulating a vast wardrobe over the years is something many people do. Whether you love to shop or hate to get rid of garments you love, there’s a good chance that all your clothing won’t fit into one closet. When you have more garments than you know what to do with, then clothing storage is a great option. But before you pack away clothes for several months, you’ll want to find ways to keep them smelling fresh, so they don’t have a weird odor when you pull them out.

Before packing clothes away, you must wash them and allow your them ample time to dry to ensure they don’t take on a mildewy and funky smell. You can add dryer sheets, an aromatic bar of soap, homemade sachets, essential oils, cedar, or other air fresheners to clothing totes to give them a nice smell. Store clothes in a clean, dry place, and use air-tight containers and moisture absorbers like activated charcoal or baking soda to keep garments dry.

Properly storing your clothing is essential if you want to keep clothes for many years and maintain an organized home. Taking the time to pack your clothes away properly ensures garments maintain a fresh smell for longer, sometimes for months after storing them away. If you are getting ready to store a seasonal wardrobe, try some of the tips listed below that are sure to keep your stored garments smelling fresh and fabulous.

13 Great Ways To Keep Clothes Smelling Great While In Storage

1. Wash Clothes Before Storing Them

One of the best ways to prevent clothes from smelling while they are stored away is to wash them first. No one intentionally stores dirty clothes, but it does happens. Whether the garment is dry-clean only or has been collecting dust on a hanger for months, there's a chance you are unintentionally packing away soiled clothing.

As a rule, you should wash all clothes shortly before packing them away. If you are storing a suit or dress, bring it to a dry cleaner, or at least give it a thorough inspection before tucking it away for several months.

2. Add Dryer Sheets

In addition to packing clean clothes, it’s smart to add something small that will enhance the way your clothes smell. One of the easiest and smallest items you can add to a bag of clothes are a few dryer sheets.

These thin sheets not only help with static cling, but many brands contain long-lasting fragrances. Adding a few dryer sheets to an airtight container filled with clothes will leave them smelling freshly laundered for months.

3. Incorporate Homemade Herb Sachets

If you love any excuse to start a DIY project (and who doesn’t?), then turn your quest for fresh-smelling clothes into a craft project. Sachets are a great and natural way to keep clothes smelling fresh.

Lavender is arguably the best herb to make sachets for clothing bins, as it has a soothing smell that lasts for months. If you have lavender in your herb garden, simply dry out the purple flowers and stuff them into sachets. You can also buy dried lavender online or in many holistic stores.

4. Ensure All Garments Are Completely Dry Before Packing

In addition to washing your clothes before storing them, you must ensure every garment is completely dry before packing it away. Even a slightly damp piece of clothing can grow mold and mildew. 

Mold and mildew are fungi that damage clothes and leave odors that are difficult to remove from fabrics. It’s smart to pack clothes for storage on a cool and dry day, or in a climate-controlled environment with low humidity.

5. Use Airtight Storage Containers

When you put anything in storage, you must use quality storage bins. Always use airtight containers, like locking plastic totes. These containers keep pests and moisture out and lock in freshness. It also helps preserve your favorite garments so they last longer.

Large airtight vacuum-sealing bags are great for clothes. They minimize the space clothes take up and keep moisture out. Never use garbage bags or cardboard to store clothes, as this leaves them vulnerable to pests and humidity.

6. Add A Moisture-Absorbing Desiccant To Each Tote

Keeping your stored clothing dry is one of the best ways to keep fabric smelling fresh. Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially when you store garments in a room with fluctuating temperatures and humidity.

To help combat moisture, consider purchasing a moisture-absorbing desiccant like silica gel. These desiccants suck moisture out of the air and protect your clothes against humidity and the mold and mildew that wet air brings with it.

7. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a kitchen pantry essential that has all sorts of uses throughout the home. This white alkaline powder helps keep your seasonal wardrobe smelling fresh in two ways. First, baking soda helps remove moisture from the air, which protects your clothes from humidity. 

Furthermore, baking soda is fantastic at absorbing and neutralizing odors. Just as it’s used in the fridge to remove bad smells, it can serve the same function in your storage area.

8. Choose A Clean Storage Location

When storing any of your belongings, you must consider the location wisely. Find a cool and dry place in your home, ideally somewhere that is climate-controlled. Avoid storing clothes in the garage, a shed, or a basement, where temperatures and humidity levels fluctuate significantly.

When storing anything, remember to keep bins off the ground. Elevating boxes helps to reduce temperature fluctuations and reduces the risk of flood damage. A cool, dry place will protect your clothes and ensure they smell and look great when you retrieve them.

9. Invest In A Dehumidifier

If you live in a humid climate and store your clothes in your home, consider investing in a dehumidifier. These home appliances can be costly, but a dehumidifier has many uses. 

These machines help prevent mold and mildew, and make your home feel cooler without air conditioning. Since they control humidity and reduce the risk of mold and mildew, they also keep your stored items dry. This reduces the likelihood that your clothing will develop a bad smell.

10. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is another natural material that can keep your stored clothes well-preserved and smelling fresh. This magical black powder not only removes stains, but it also absorbs odors. 

Placing activated charcoal near where you store your clothes will absorb moisture and bad odors. It will also keep clothes dry and free of musty odors.

11. Incorporate Cedar Into Storage

Cedar wood is an asset in any storage unit. For one, cedar is a fantastic natural pest deterrent. It repels moths, carpet beetles, and cockroaches, and all three of these insects can damage clothing if left unchecked.

Cedar also has a lovely woody aroma. It’s found in many colognes and perfumes. Storing clothes with cedar blocks will give your clothes a lovely woodsy smell while simultaneously keeping pests away.

12. Use A Bar Of Soap

One creative way to give your clothes a nice smell while they are stored away is to add a fragrant bar of soap to the storage container. A bar of soap won’t release all its aromatic oils right away. Instead, it will slowly and continuously provide all nearby garments with its refreshing smell. This is a great option for those storing clothes for many months.

13. Air Fresheners And Deodorizers 

Lastly, an air freshener can go a long way to keep your clothes smelling great, even when they are stored in a dark room. Several air fresheners also help remove bad smells from the air. Products like Fabreeze can remove bad smells and replace them with refreshing aromas. 

If you plan to use air fresheners where you store your clothes, you must remember to change them out periodically, as they lose their effectiveness over time.

Final Notes On Keeping Stored Clothes Smelling Great

Storing your clothing is a great way to free up space in your closet, but keeping your garments smelling great while packed away can be challenging. To keep your clothes smelling fresh while in storage, consider adding fragrance-enhancers like homemade herb sachets, air fresheners, dryer sheets, or even a bar of soap. Wash all garments before storing them, and give them ample time to dry to reduce the risk of mildew and mold.

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