The Common Kind Of Clothing That Has No Business In Your Closet

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If you find yourself nearly buried under an avalanche every time you reach into your closet, you may be tempted to blame the clutter on too many shoes, bad organization, or simply too little space. However, there is one common kind of clothing that can often be the tipping point between a full closet and an unmanageable one. And the worst part? This type of clothing really has no business being in your closet anyway because it isn't needed as often as everyday wear. Meet: your formal special occasion garments.

These items — such as bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, prom dresses, and ball gowns — can often be stored alongside more commonly-used garments simply due to the fact that they are also clothes. However, these pieces often involve either lots of extra fabric or a variety of added accessories, all of which can end up dominating your closet space. It makes sense to keep these items nearby if you are frequently called up to attend a wedding, funeral, or red carpet event, but if this isn't what your schedule generally looks like, then keeping them in your main closet can become a frustrating mismanagement of much-needed space. But this doesn't necessarily mean that you have to pack up all your fanciest clothing items and drop them off at the nearest secondhand clothing store. There are plenty of genius clothing storage solutions for your special occasion pieces, including under-bed storage ideas and garment bags, so that they can be pulled out when they are needed and, crucially, so they are out of the way when they aren't.

To transform a messy closet, it is a good idea to take stock of items you don't wear often, yet take up lots of space. Consider pulling out wedding attire, evening gowns, or formal suits that are reserved for rare occasions. Then, examine the clothing for stains, debris, or rips that may need repairs. By taking care of these with cleaning or professional alteration before storing, you can save yourself from experiencing a nasty surprise the next time you go to take these items out for a special event.

Once the garments are clean and repaired, you can then check out other places in your home in which they can be stored. Look to make use of a small hall closet or any spare bedrooms that are dark and cool, as this will help protect the garments from strong sunlight and excessive heat. Damp basements should generally be avoided because humidity can cause the fabric to deteriorate. You could even utilize under-bed storage (just make sure not to pack the clothes too tightly as this can cause creasing). While moving the garments to their new home, you can also place them in breathable garment bags — like these HomeClean Hanging Garment Bags — which will stop dust from settling on them while still allowing enough airflow to prevent them from getting musty. If it will be a long time before you wear these items again, you may also want to regularly inspect them to ensure there are no signs of excess moisture, harmful pests, or discoloration. If there are, you may need to try moving the garments to another location.