It felt like the summer would never end! But as we approach September, the weather’s finally starting to turn, and the ground is getting some much-needed rain. My sandals are no longer needed – and that’s my personal sign to switch to my autumn wardrobe.
So last weekend, I began pulling everything out to make the big move. My shorts, summer dresses and sun hats would be folded down to hibernate in storage. And out came the raincoats, cardigans and leggings in exchange.
But my wardrobe had seemingly extended since I last organised it, and not in the good way. I had too many clothes, so something needed to be done. Here’s the crucial lessons I learned as I made my seasonal wardrobe switch, and the one rule I followed to brutally declutter my summer clothes.
1. Organise your storage first
It helps to know what space and tools you’ve got to work with before you get started. That way, you know your limits on what you can store, and you won’t go overboard on the stuffing.
For me, the ottoman bed is where most of my out-of-season clothes are stored. I predominantly use plastic containers of varying sizes to hold everything, but there are also a couple of garment bags at the edge of my clothes rail and a vacuum storage bag to contain the winter duvet. Since I last unearthed my clothes, one of the boxes has been crushed by the lift mechanism and has since cracked and snapped. It’s still good to use, but I certainly won’t store anything in here that might attract moths.
Don’t buy more storage solutions unless you’re sure they will fit the space and purpose. A common problem I see is people buying shoes organisers for their summer sandals, and then finding they won’t fit the thicker winter shoes.
2. Check for moths
Speaking of moths, make sure there’s no signs of them where you’re intending to store your clothes. Look out for any silvery webbing, or larvae (up to ½ an inch in size). For anything that’s not sealed, small holes are an obvious sign too.
There are plenty of moth deterrents you can place around your clothes, including dried lavender sachets and pheromone traps. Above all, remove and contain loose items first. If those don’t exist, moths have little to attract them.
Clothes Doctor Natural Moth Repellent Scent Bags
3. Don’t get the woollens out just yet
Woollens take up more room than most other items of clothing. I have a dedicated space for them in my chest of drawers, but due to their thickness, I can only stack about three at a time. Because of this, I won’t get them out until they’re actually being worn – otherwise it’s just wasted space that could fit a lot more relevant items in the interim. The same advice goes for any puffer jackets. These take up an immense amount of room once they’re out and hanging on the coat rack, whereas they’re much smaller while kept in a vacuum bag.
GHI Tip: Only use a vacuum storage bag on synthetic puffer jackets and do so for a limited amount of time, letting it breathe every few months.
Until they’re needed, woollens will remain under the bed, although I keep meaning to buy a cashmere storage bag so the fabric can breathe a little easier, while still protected from moths.
The Cashmere Choice Extra Large Cashmere Sweater Storage Bag
The Cashmere Choice Extra Large Cashmere Sweater Storage Bag
4. Whatever you do, wash before you store
In years gone by, I have stored items without first washing them. There’s immense regret when the time comes to take them out again. Bacteria is left to grow and produce a musty, overwhelming odour. You have to wash it anyway when it reaches this stage, so you might as well wash (and thoroughly dry it) before storage.
5. Keep shoes separate
You should really clean your shoes before you store them. But I’ll admit we don’t always have time to go to the extent of scrubbing the soles! As a cheat, I’ve started putting a sheet of paper between each pair, so they won’t rub dirt on each other. I also stuff sandals with spare tissue or newspaper so they maintain their shape and don’t get crushed.
6. Don’t just rotate your clothes
Rotating your summer/autumnal wardrobe isn’t just about the clothes. You should also be making a point of rotating your accessories too. Any beach bags, bikinis and sun hats should be found its own space in storage, so it’s not in the way of the more relevant accessories going forward.
I’ve previously had so many handbags in my wardrobe, that they’ve fallen on my head as I’ve opened the door. The summer ones were all lined up at the front, while the autumnal/winter bags were hidden at the back (some still with labels in). I’ve gone through whole seasons without even switching my bag, making all that storage pointless.
7. Declutter as you go with one rule in mind
As I moved my summer clothes into storage, one rule in the back of my mind guided me on what needed decluttering. It’s as simple as this: if it wasn’t worn over the summer, let it go. It’s a brutal mindset, but it leaves little room for doubt, or what ifs?
I had decided not to wear these things for one reason or another. Some I just didn't like the look of, others were too small, some were just ‘too much’ for everyday wear, such as floppy hats. Some items were admittedly buried and I didn’t want to let them go. So I vouched they’d be used again next year, otherwise that was the final strike.
Even though I removed a good haul of summer clothes, they still only just fit into storage, which was a little annoying if anything. But still, knowing that my summer clothes would be clean, organised and clutter-free by next year meant an easier task in the spring, so it was worth it.
Wardrobe declutter kit
