The Ultimate Guide to Storing Winter Gear to Make Room for Summer

The items you use regularly tend to change as the seasons change. While you might need lots of blankets and thick coats in winter, summer brings warmth and a need to store these things properly. There’s nothing worse than pulling out a jacket or pair of gloves after months of storage only to discover it’s musty and moldy.

If you’re curious about how to keep winter gear fresh for next season, you’re in the right place. Avoid the extra work when the cold months inevitably roll around again with this comprehensive guide.

Unpacking the Benefits of Seasonal Storage

After the last snowfall, you’ll want to ensure you’re not just cramming your winter gear in the garage or attic and calling it a day. Proper seasonal storage can provide several benefits for your household.

Maximize Space 

Having your seasonal clothing and equipment hanging around for months when you don’t need them can lead to annoying clutter. Storing these things properly frees up space for currently in-use items and helps you feel less overwhelmed when looking for stuff.

Protect Your Valuables

Seasonal items like winter sports equipment and holiday decorations are generally expensive to replace. Without proper storage, these accessories can get easily damaged, generating unnecessary waste and increasing your household’s carbon footprint. Storing these items properly can prolong their useful life and ensure they’re in good condition when you need them.

Easier Access

The average person spends 2.5 days a year trying to find lost items, maybe more so in a disorganized home. With proper seasonal storage, you know exactly where you stored a piece of clothing or equipment and can easily find it in less time.

Reinforce Organizational Habits 

Clutter and disarray are inevitable the more stuff you own. Only by having an organizational process can you stay on top of the situation and prevent your home from looking like a complete mess year-round. Committing to seasonal storage is a great way to hone this process until it becomes a habit for your household.

What Winter Items Should You Put in Storage?

It’s time to make room for summer. These are the top wintertime household items you’ll want to put away:

• Bulky coats and jackets

• Heavy blankets and winter bedding

• Sleds, snowmobiles and quads

• Snow boots and gloves 

• Winter sports gear

• Generators and emergency storm preparedness materials

• Winter equipment like snow blowers and shovels

Feel free to tack on as many items as necessary to your winter storage list. If you have items you don’t intend to use anytime soon, store them properly.

Winter Gear Storage Tips 

With a clear idea of why proper seasonal storage is essential, it’s time to work out how to go about it. On the surface, it might seem as simple as grabbing everything on your list and placing them in the basement, but there’s more to it than that. Leverage these handy tips to simplify the process and ensure your items don’t lose their quality while in storage.

1. Find an Appropriate Place for Storage

Decide on the ideal place to store specific items. For instance, winter clothes and coats do well in dry cotton or canvas storage bags. If you plan on storing winter gear in areas susceptible to drastic temperature changes — like the garage or attic — you’ll need to go the extra mile to improve insulation and replace faulty infrastructure. Sealing gaps and air leaks is essential for humidity control in your designated storage areas.

2. Clean Everything

You’ll be storing winter clothing and gear for months, so you don’t want to pack them away in dirty, unkempt conditions. It makes more sense to clean these items before storage so they’re immediately available and useful once winter returns.

Remember to sort them based on their unique requirements. For example, you want to dry clean wool and cashmere coats instead of machine washing them.

3. Box Up Bulky Items

Puffy coats, duvets and blanket scarves can take up a lot of space. You don’t want to use valuable real estate on these off-season items, especially if you live in a small apartment. A large specialty wardrobe box will only set you back around $12–$15, and can provide ample space to store your winter apparel and bedding safely.

4. Drain Mechanical Equipment 

Petroleum products left over long periods can break down — gasoline has a 3–6 months shelf life, after which you’ll have to think twice about using it. Prolonged storage of these products can also lead to varnish build-up and gum deposits that can clog the fuel system. Drain all fluids from winter equipment and clean them before storage.

5. Protect Against Pests and Odors

Cedar blocks or lavender sachets are effective natural alternatives to chemical mothballs. Include a few in every storage space to keep out odors. Experts also recommend freezing ziplocked garments for a few days to eliminate unhatched pests still lingering prior to storage.

Store Your Winter Gear Like a Pro

Summer’s almost here. Now’s the time to assess your seasonal items and decide how to store them to retain their quality and freshness for when the cold season rolls back around.