Despite how hard you may be holding on to any remnants of summer, it's really time you to put your sandals, bathing suits, airy blouses and other warm weather wear away for the winter. You've probably already heard tons of tips for how to store winter sweaters or coats properly, but your summer items need just as much care when they're being put away for the season. We've put together the top ways to store all your seasonal clothing so it'll come back out in perfect condition when the sun is back!
1. Seal your bathing suits in a moisture-proof bag
Spacemaker Storage Vacuum Cubes - Walmart ($11.96 for set of 3)
Bathing suits are expensive because they have to be made well in order to weather elements like sand, chlorine and salt water. Since you spent good money on them, you want to take good care of them in the off-season. First and foremost, make sure all of your suits are washed, so you clean away any chemicals that could do damage to the fabric. Once your suits are completely dry, place them in a vacuum seal bag to ensure no moisture gets in, and store them away somewhere where it's dry and at room temperature.
2. Insert shoe trees into your sandals
Shoe Tree (1 pair) - Ikea ($0.99)
You already know to keep inserts in your fall boots throughout the summer to help keep their shape. Your summer sandals deserve the same treatment! Use shoe inserts, like these from Ikea, or even crumpled pieces of newspaper or tissue paper to stuff and shape your sandals. This way, when summer olls around, your favorite strappy pairs won't look mangled and flattened, the way they would if you'd just thrown them in the bottom of a bin for the winter!
3. Hang your delicate blouses in garment bags
Closetware Clear Dress Bag - Bed, Bath and Beyond ($12.99)
Loose, lightweight tops and dresses made of silky materials are prone to wrinkles when put in drawers, so they're much better off hanging in your closet—plus, doing so will save you a trip to the dry cleaners once the warm weather comes around. For maximum protection, store them in a closed hanging bag so they don't get caught on embellishments and zippers from other items in your closet. This bag from Bed Bath and Beyond is particularly good because it can hold a number of garments at once.
4. Fold your shorts in half widthwise
Whether you're putting your shorts collection in a bin under your bed, in drawers or on a closet shelf, just be sure to only fold them once horizontally where the button or zipper opening is. Otherwise, you'll run the risk of having to deal with a pesky crease line when you pull them out next year.
5. Hang your flip flop collection
Perfect Curve Flip-Flop Rack - The Container Store $9.99
If you're the type who hordes flip-flops and owns the same pair in every color, consider organizing them using a door rack. If you suddenly want to wear a pair around your dorm room or to the communal showers, you won't have to waste anytime searching for its match. This version, from the Container Store doesn't take up a lot of door space and holds up to nine pairs. If your door already has some sort of organization system attached to it, use the inside of the door.
What are your tips for storing summer clothing, collegiettes?