Fall Storage Tips for Summer Clothes, Vehicle & Seasonal Decor

Fall season is the perfect time to get your home ready for the cooler months and the hectic holiday season. Organizing your belongings now cuts down on clutter and makes room for all your seasonal must-haves.

In this post, we’ll share fall storage tips to help you protect your belongings and enjoy the transition into a new season. Let’s explore practical ways to store everything from your summer wardrobe to your seasonal decorations!

Strategies for Decluttering

Tackling seasonal storage begins with a thorough declutter. Here are simple strategies to get started.

Focus on one space at a time. Choose a single room or even just an area, like a closet, to work on first. This keeps the process manageable and helps you see progress as you complete each section.
Empty the space. Take everything out of the area you’re organizing. An empty space allows you to assess what you have and makes it easier to clean thoroughly.
Categorize your items. Start by sorting everything into piles: keep, donate, or discard. Once you’ve decided what to keep, group similar items together for easier storage and organization.
Clean thoroughly. Before putting anything back, clean both the area and the items you plan to store. A clean slate ensures your space feels fresh and organized.
Place items thoughtfully. Arrange your belongings in a way that maximizes your storage space and provides easy access to frequently used items. Use bins, dividers, or labels to keep things organized.

Essential Fall Storage Tips for a Well-Organized Home This Holiday Season

Storing Summer Clothes and Accessories

When storing your summer wardrobe, it’s essential to have the right storage solutions to ensure your items stay in top condition during the off-season.

White Long Sleeves Shirts on Brown Wooden Clothes Hanger

Vacuum Storage Bags: These bags compress clothes, protecting them from dust and moisture while making it easier to save space in your storage area.
Hangers: Use wire or plastic hangers for lightweight items like tank tops or shirts and wooden hangers for heavier garments such as dresses, suits, and jackets to maintain their shape.
Clear Storage Bins: These keep your clothes organized and visible for easy access to your items when you need them. Be sure to clean them before storing anything.
Dehumidifier: A dehumidifier helps control moisture in the storage area, preventing mold and mildew.

Now that you have the supplies, here’s how to store summer clothes correctly. Be sure to wash or dry clean everything beforehand so that they’re fresh and ready when you bring them out next year.

Dresses: Hang dresses on wooden hangers. For delicate and silky fabrics, use padded hangers to prevent wrinkling and slipping. Cover them with a breathable garment bag or a clean coat to keep them safe from dust.
Swimsuits: Fold them neatly and store them in a drawer or closet shelf. Avoid vacuum-sealing; the plastic can ruin the elastic and cause the swimsuits to smell musty.
Shoes and Sandals: Keep them in a shoe cabinet to protect them from dust and damage. If your cabinet is full, try using wall-mounted storage straps to save floor space.
Beach Bags: Fold your beach bags into tight squares and store them in a bin. Another option is to fold the smaller ones and keep them inside the largest bag for easy organization.

Protecting Vehicles and Tires

Where you store your car is important when transitioning out of summer use. Ideally, it’s your garage. But what if you don’t have one? What are your options?

Build a carport and cover the car. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, building a carport is a great way to protect your vehicle. Adding a cover will shield your car from the elements.
Rent a space. Some car owners without garages rent space in a neighbor’s garage or barn, but beware of security and access concerns. Self-storage facilities like Storage King USA offer secure outdoor, covered, and indoor options to keep your vehicle protected.

Now, how to store summer tires? They should be kept inside a cool, dry place, away from sunlight or ozone sources. Place them in lawn or garden bags, remove as much air as possible from the bags, and seal them with tape. This helps preserve the tire oils and prevent evaporation.

To ensure your summer tires remain in excellent condition during storage, it’s important to organize them correctly.

Upright: Tires stored off the rims should always be kept upright to reduce stress.
Stacked: Mounted tires can be safely stacked on top of each other to free up floor space.
Hung on Walls: Take advantage of vertical space by hanging mounted tires on heavy-duty hooks. Avoid hanging unmounted tires; it can distort their shape permanently.

Maintaining Seasonal Decorations

It’s essential to store decorations properly to keep them in pristine condition for next year. Here are simple tips to maintain your favorite seasonal items.

Potted Plants: Bury pots in the ground, or move them to a sheltered but bright spot and insulate them with tarp or chicken wire. If storing indoors, use a humidifier to maintain the right moisture levels.
String Lights: Wrap string lights around a rectangular piece of cardboard with slits at each end to hold them in place. If you have multiple, stack the wrapped cardboards neatly.
Hammocks: Hang your hammock indoors to keep using it or store it on a hook or nail in a closet to save space. For long-term storage, fold and pack it into its original bag.
Patio Furniture: You can leave patio furniture outdoors if your indoor space is limited, but invest in a durable, fade-resistant furniture cover with buckles and dry vents. This will protect it from the elements and reduce wear over time.
Portable Outdoor Firepit: Clean the firepit thoroughly, removing ash and debris. Cover it and store it in a dry, cool place like your garage or shed to prevent rust and weather damage.

Takeaway

With these fall storage tips, you can organize your seasonal items and protect your belongings. By maximizing your storage space using innovative storage solutions, you’ll make seasonal transitions smoother and more efficient. A little effort today means less stress and more time to enjoy the holidays and everyday life beyond that!

Make storing your summer items effortless by choosing Storage King USA’s convenient solutions. Our secure, climate-controlled self-storage units are perfect for keeping your clothing, vehicles, and seasonal decorations in excellent condition. With advanced safety features and flexible unit sizes, we make storage easy and worry-free.