10 Best Clothing Storage Bags in 2022 (Amazon Basics, Sorbus, and More)

Before you put your clothes away in storage, there are a few steps you should take to ensure that your clothes are in their best possible condition when you bring them back out. The most important step is that you should clean your clothes according to the guidelines on their labels. 

Your clothes may look and smell clean, but any kind of dust, sweat, or grime that’s on your clothes when you put them away can encourage bacteria and mold to grow. This is why you should thoroughly wash and dry your clothes thoroughly before putting them in storage.

If any of your garments need to be professionally cleaned, make sure to remove any plastic bags they are returned in. Plastic can cause the fibers of your clothing to sweat, and moisture is another major cause of mold and odor.

We’ve searched the Internet to find the best clothing storage bags available based on customer feedback. We’ve picked a variety of bags, so no matter what you’re looking for, we have a clothing storage bag for you!

Before buying any storage bags for your clothing, there are a few points you should take into consideration, such as size and material. To help you with this, we’ve put together this handy buying guide!

The size of your storage bags is one of the most important factors you need to take into account. 

Before buying any clothing storage bags, you should consider which clothes you want to store. There are several different reasons for this (some we will touch on later), but the most pressing is to have enough space for all of your clothes to fit. 

Whether you need just one bag or several, it’s important that they have enough capacity for all of the clothes you want to store. You may find it easier to sort out the clothes first so that you can measure them and ensure they will all fit.

You might consider buying a bag that is larger than you need, just to be safe and make sure you have enough space. However, this may not be a wise idea! Clothing storage bags can become bulky and heavy when full, so it’s imperative that you decide where the bag will be stored before you buy it. 

If you do buy the biggest storage bag you can find, will you have room to store it? Many people have space in their attic or garage to store clothes, but if you’re looking for a bag that can fit on top of a wardrobe or underneath a bed, you will need to be more mindful of how big the bag you choose is.

There are a few different materials that you can choose from when it comes to clothing storage bags. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, so think about which works best for you.

One of the main advantages plastic bags have over other materials is that they are typically see-through. This makes it easy to see which clothes are inside. If you’ve stored a few bags of clothes several months ago and then need to find a couple of garments, plastic bags will make it easier to find them. 

However, some plastic bags can be made from thin materials. If this is the case, they are prone to ripping or splitting if they're overloaded or storing clothes with rough edges or zippers. However, thicker bags can be difficult to move due to their lack of handles or rigidity, so they're not the most convenient for transportation or travel. 

Since plastic bags are usually made from thin and flexible plastic, but containers are made from thick and rigid plastic, we felt it was best to consider them two separate materials! Plastic storage containers are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and can be easily stacked to save space. 

If you’re going to use a plastic container for clothes, it should have a solid lid that locks in place and creates an airtight seal. 

One disadvantage of plastic storage containers is that they can be big and bulky. You may find it more difficult to slide a plastic container underneath the bed. In addition, plastic containers may be great to transport clothes (such as when moving), but they're difficult to travel with due to how bulky they are.

If you don’t have space to hide away your clothing bags, bags made from fabric are a good way to store your clothes without compromising your decor. However, fabric isn’t a naturally waterproof material, so ensure that any clothes stored in fabric bags or boxes are kept away from damp conditions. 

Fabric is opaque, but many fabric bags will have a clear section so that you can see what's inside. It’s also essential that it has a lid that will close securely to prevent any pests from getting inside.

Bags made from fabric can usually be folded down when not in use, making them easy to store. However, as they're foldable, they aren't as rigid as plastic boxes. If you're looking to transport clothes or travel with fabric bags, make sure they have sturdy handles so you can carry them without the material ripping!

Cardboard boxes are plentiful and easy to obtain, so it can be tempting to use them to store your clothes. You should try to avoid this, as cardboard won't give your clothes the protection they need while they are in storage. Cardboard is only suitable for short-term use, such as when moving.

Cardboard can’t be sealed securely, isn’t waterproof, and has a natural acidity that can damage clothes over a long period of time. It can also attract pests like cockroaches, which can easily eat through the cardboard and get into your clothes!

Vacuum-sealed plastic bags are very popular when it comes to storing clothes. Some of these bags can be rolled and sealed to drive air out of the bags, whereas others require a tool such as a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out of them.

The main advantage of vacuum-sealed bags is how great they are at saving space. As they pull the air out of the bag and the clothes themselves, they will greatly reduce the size of your clothes and the space needed to store them. 

These bags are reusable, and no equipment is needed to get air back into your clothes; simply open the bag when you want them again, and they will naturally return to their original shape. Vacuum-sealing clothes can cause them to become very wrinkled, however, so you will probably need to iron your clothes before you wear them.

Although vacuum-sealed bags can be used with any clothing in the short term, it’s best not to store certain clothes for six months or more. 

Natural fibers, such as wool and fur, require air to retain their shape, so depriving them of air for too long can prevent them from returning to their original shape and quality. This is also the case for thick, padded jackets stuffed with natural fibers.

Since vacuum-sealed bags are made from plastic, it is possible that they can tear or leak, especially if overloaded. They’re typically made out of thicker plastic than a standard plastic bag, but this doesn’t make them invincible. Look for vacuum-sealed bags that are thicker, and check reviews to ensure that they don’t split easily.

One major issue with storing clothes is keeping them free of any pests. There are several pests that like to feed on fabric, and the most common are clothes moths and carpet beetles. The most effective way to deal with pests is to ensure they don’t get into your clothing storage bags in the first place! 

Clean your clothes thoroughly before putting them into your bags, and ensure that the bags are fully airtight. Pests don’t need a large space to crawl inside, and they can get into spaces that are too small for our eyes to see. 

If you’re not 100 percent certain that your bag or container is airtight, you can also make sure by sealing the lid with duct tape. This may not look aesthetically pleasing, but it will keep the pests out and should be easy to remove when it’s time to get your clothes out of storage.

You can also put something inside the bag that will repel any pests that try to get inside. However, you should be careful when choosing a pest deterrent and try to avoid anything that has chemical insecticides. These can damage your clothing and typically smell strong, neither of which are ideal for long-term storage!

Instead, look for natural alternatives such as cedar rings or blocks. These have been known to occasionally stain clothing, so we would advise wrapping them in an old cloth before placing them inside the bag.

It's important to take care of your clothes while they're in storage, but it's equally important to take care of them when they're not! That's why we have recommendations for some more items that will protect your clothes.

Author: Kellie Lacey

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