Stop Using Trash Bags For Clothing Storage (& Here Is The Gross Reason Why)

If you are gearing up to store away your seasonal clothing to get ready for warmer temperatures, you may want to think twice before pulling out those garbage bags. While keeping a trash bag in your closet can be a great way to ensure you donate clothes you don't wear, whether or not you personally plan to wear them again, you don't want garments sitting in a trash bag for too long. Keeping clothes in a trash bag can lead to mold or yellowing. If you have always used plastic bags to store seasonal clothing, there are other ways to prevent a cluttered closet without ruining your items.

When it comes to seasonal clothing, there are ways to properly store your clothes. This includes washing them thoroughly and folding them correctly, so you don't start next season with wrinkled clothes. But before you can even start your clean-out process, you need to figure out your storage method. With trash bags out of the running this year, there are other, and better, storage options that will keep your clothes fresh while they are stored away.

Trash bags are great for many things that aren't trash (you can even use them to fill an air mattress), but one thing you shouldn't use them for is clothing storage. If you are moving or looking for an easy way to transport your clothes, trash and plastic bags are a fine way to do so — as long as those clothes will be removed from those bags and put into a closet or dresser relatively quickly. After too long, mildew can start to form as there is no way for moisture to exit the bags. The last thing you want is to open your seasonal clothes to find yellow tints on your swimsuits or mold growing on your favorite sweater.

If you currently have clothes stored in trash bags and just ran to your garage to pull them out only to see that yellow tint, don't panic; you can fix them. Mix hydrogen peroxide and water together and let your yellow-stained clothes sit in the mixture for about 45 minutes before washing in cold water and hanging to dry. For stubborn stains, adding baking soda to the solution and a soft brushing can both help.

Instead of trash bags, invest in some plastic bins to store your clothes. For space saving options, you should consider plastic containers that fit under your bed. Some folks store clothes in their garages, however, all that outside moisture that can lead to mold and mildew, so storing clothes indoors is the way to go. While there are many options out there for under-the-bed containers, plastic is your best bet as cloth varieties can be subject to pests like mice. Consider the Sterilite under bed storage bin from Target for $19.99 or a two-pack of LANDNEOO under bed storage bins, which are moisture proof and budget friendly at just $9.99, from Amazon.

Once you have the right containers, make sure you do not overstuff them. If the lid is not fully sealed or the garment bag is not fully zippered, it becomes open to damage from pests or moisture. While a dark, cool, and dry place is best for your stored clothes, if you do need to store them in a garage, you can add extra protection to your bins by lining them with linen sheets or putting acid-free boxes inside the containers.