Tips for Storing Clothes for a Big Move
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Packing and Storing Clothes Without Ruining Them
A wardrobe is one of the easiest parts of a house to pack badly. Squash the wrong things, seal damp fabric in plastic or leave everything on hangers in loose bags and you unpack creases, stretch marks and musty smells at the other end. This guide covers the whole job: culling before you pack, the folding methods that work, the materials worth buying and how to store clothes safely if there is a gap between homes.
The order matters. Cull first, then sort, then pack. Every garment you donate or sell is one you never have to fold, carry or find cupboard space for again.
Before You Pack: Cull and Sort
Empty the wardrobe and drawers completely so you can see everything you own. Anything that no longer fits, has not been worn in a year or is not worth carrying to the new house goes in a donate or sell pile now.
Sort the keepers by season and by type. Out-of-season clothes can be packed early and opened last; the current season stays accessible until the final days. Keep delicate pieces such as silk, knitwear and formal wear in their own pile, because they need gentler packing than jeans and t-shirts.
Folding Methods That Survive a Truck Ride
- Flat folding: lay the garment on a flat surface and fold it once into a long strip. Best for shirts and anything that creases easily.
- Rolling: fold the item in half, then roll it tightly from the far edge. Rolling suits heavier fabrics like t-shirts, jumpers and jeans and packs more into each box.
- KonMari method: fold each item so it stands upright, then place the folds into the box in alternating directions. Good for lighter garments and it makes unpacking into drawers fast.
- Wardrobe boxes: suits, dresses and anything you never want folded travel hanging in a wardrobe box with a built-in rail.
- Bundled hangers: short of wardrobe boxes, group a few hanging items, wrap them around their hangers and secure them before boxing so they cannot slide and crease.
Materials Worth Having
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes; order them before packing day.
- Standard cartons for folded and rolled items; keep each box light enough to lift comfortably.
- Suitcases and duffel bags are free capacity you already own; fill them with rolled clothes and shoes.
- Garment bags or clean plastic covers for delicate pieces such as silk and formal wear.
- Vacuum or compression bags shrink bulky doonas, jackets and knitwear so they stack neatly. Everything must be completely dry before you seal a vacuum bag; any trapped moisture leads to mould, and there is no fixing a mouldy sealed bag weeks later.
- Tape, markers and scissors so every box gets sealed and labelled with its contents.
Shoes, hats and accessories travel separately in their original boxes where possible, stuffed with paper to hold their shape.
Storing Clothes Between Homes
If there is a gap between moving out and moving in, pack for storage rather than for a quick unpack. Clothes going into storage must be clean and completely dry, folded into sealed cartons or vacuum bags with the delicates hanging in wardrobe boxes. Label every box by category so you can pull out one carton of winter gear without opening ten.
Think about the climate you are heading into as well. On a Sydney to Brisbane run you can bury most of the winter wardrobe at the bottom of the load; heading south to Melbourne or Canberra, keep coats and jumpers where you can reach them in the first week.
If your wardrobe needs a home between moves, our removals storage holds it until the new place is ready, and our packing services can do the boxing for you.
Royal Sydney Removals Services
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