Clothes storage

Downsized nearly 5 years ago, so storage was a problem. I bought some underbed storage boxes from Matalan that have small air vents. Have been using them ever since, changing the clothes that go in them twice a year. Have not as yet had any problems with moths. Fortunately, my bed has a base that goes to the floor, so you don't see the boxes. Result !!!

I wish I was so organised that I could part with clothes which haven't been worn for 2 years or more.
Moths have eaten their way through my attic so don't be envious of attics.

Cleaning out a wardrobe is today's job. I find yellowing linen. Is it because it never gets a really hot wash?

Vacuum storage bags for me too. They're handy for cushions/duvets/pillows/winter throws as well as clothes.
I bought a large trunk in suede and metal which resides in my bedroom, full of the above and I have another one full of shoes/boots wrapped in tissue. Handbags not in use are stored in an underbed plastic storage box.
Everything is laundered, brushed and cleaned before putting away with a couple of cedar balls to keep things fresh.

Most of my shorts and lots of thinner/sleeveless tops I leave in our mobile home in France. Don't have much use for them in the UK.
In summer I do put some of my thicker sweaters in the spare room wardrobe and get summer dresses out; vice versa in autumn.

I have everything in the fitted wardrobes, hanging and on shelves. I never pack anything away seasonally. (Living in Scotland we can have 4 seasons in one day but this May has been amazing)
Regarding stains appearing through time, you need to be sure anything packed away is thoroughly laundered as a superficial wash still leaves residue which discolours over time. I use Vanish and so wish I had bought shares in the company years ago when I found out how great the product was.

Oh! Marieeliz keep your fingers crossed that you NEVER have moths - we had some that ate the previous carpet. We are all crazy in this house when a moth is about - everyone grabbing for the 'tennis racket' type electronic zapper.
Not our favourite entertainment, for sure.

Mine stay in the wardrobe and drawers. Summers in NE Scotland aren't great, so my winter clothes outnumber my summer ones, and are worn eight times out of ten probably.

I have two spare rooms, so they are in there, never had trouble with moths.

As DCs have long since flown the nest I now have three spare bedrooms so clothes are swapped between wardrobes and drawers in the spare rooms. Previous to that it was suitcases in the loft or underbed storage bags.

My clothes don't change very much with the seasons, but any really thick winter jumpers and coats go in big zip up storage bags (from Lakeland) under our bed with a couple of Moth Stop sachets in the bag. Never had any problems with discolouration. Bed linen, pillows and towels for our guest rooms are stored in the same way with lavender bags. Beach towels and spare towels for the family bathroom are in the airing cupboard - keeps 'em nice and warm. I'm not sure what's in the loft, DH says it's all my crafting stuff and it's too full to get anything else up there!!

Actually although I have a big drawer for unseasonal clothes, most of mine just stay where they are all year round. I do put away a couple of very thick long cardigans and long winter skirts, and swap them for a few summer skirts, a summer coat, and I also have summer and winter nightwear.
To be honest most of these seasonal items are years old as they get very little wear. My son called unexpectedly and asked why I was wearing a blouse I had had for 15+ years. I replied that I don’t wear decent clothes for cleaning the oven!

Mine go into a suitcase or 2 and OH puts them up the loft twice a year. Always throw out a few things every time if I haven't worn them they go to the charity shop.

I leave my entire clothes in the wardrobe. Just move them around. I wear same trousers for winter and summer as for tops...wear them on their own or with cardigans. And I can't get to the loft.....more hassle than it's worth.

Mine go in spare room wardrobe too. Each changeover, I cull them and anything not worn in past year goes to charity!

I use the wardrobe in another bedroom for out of season dresses. The shelves for jumpers, t's and cardys remain the same

Big old suitcase. Swap everything around twice a year.

I have never 'stored' out of season clothes - they all stay in my wardrobe and drawers. Given the unpredictable climate in the UK, it's more than possible I could need a jumper in July or a T-shirt in February . So I just keep them all within reach and layer up/discard layers as necessary! The only concession I make in terms of seasonal change is my shoes - I always keep about 3 pairs of shoes downstairs, the rest in the bottom of my wardrobe. In the winter the 'downstairs' ones would be boots/trainers/heavier 'closed in' shoes, whereas in the summer I swap them for lightweight Skechers and sandals.

I just move clothes around in my wardrobes. As for discolouration, I think it would be worth putting everything in the washing machine without soap, and then drying in the open (not tumbled), then fold without ironing. It is probably soap residue that is discolouring.

Oh, OK GrandmaMoira I hadn't thought of high ceilings etc. We do have a garage but it's not attached and gets damp. The grass is always greener eh? I suppose that having all our 'treasures' in a spare room does mean that they are easy to get at. I will rethink my searching for a new house with a pitched roof. Just one with plenty of storage.

I am lucky to have spare bedroom with very large built in wardrobe with glass slider doors. we have same in our room too. In summer I move all of my heavy outdoor coats and clothing that takes a lot of room into wardrobe in spare room. In summer i move it all back and remove summer dresses into spare wardrobe. it works well. No fading.

Danni - a loft is only good if it is accessible. I have high ceilings and no loft ladder hence cannot reach it and what is stored there does get very dusty and dirty.
I recently viewed a flat roof house with a garage - it would be so much easier to have storage in the (attached) garage than in a loft.

Oh, how I wish that we had a loft to store things in.............. suitcases for holidays, suitcases full of out of season clothes, Christmas decorations, or just 'stuff' but no, because we have a flat roof! So where does it all go?.............into a spare bedroom that is so full of 'stuff' that no one could ever sleep in there.
Note to self: if we ever move check for a pitched roof before anything else

I'm assuming OP that you were talking about white cotton tee-shirts? These do sometimes discolour as do other white cotton or linen if they have either been ironed before being stored or have got slightly damp while in storage.

The discolouration should wash out if you steep the clothes in cold soapy water before washing them in the usual way. If they are still discoloured try either a mild solution of bleach or one of the agents for softening hard water either to wash them or to steep them in.

Actually, thinking about it ; with my memory lately, if I put clothes away somewhere, it would very much be 'out of sight, out of mind', and I'd forget I had them. I would probably then be buying replacements, thinking I had given them to a charity shop of something (I do try to keep on top of clutter that way).

For those who do put them away in the loft - how do you decide when to bring them back out? And how do you remember you actually have them in the first place ?

Umm - out of season clothes? I don't have any. What I wear in the warm weather I also wear in cold, with the addition of a cardigan. The few items I don't wear in winter (e.g. white linen trousers) just stay in the wardrobe all year round.

I do have a reasonable amount of storage space, and am not very "clothes orientated" so don't have that extensive a wardrobe to need to keep swapping it out.