With hot weather and rising humidity, it’s the ideal time to switch out any lingering winter clothes from your closet and reclaim vital space.
As someone with only 20 inches of hanging rail space in my tiny closet, I always rely on Amazon’s vacuum storage bags, which compact down by 80%, to easily switch out and store clothes I don’t need from one season to the next.
Rotating and storing clothes for the longer term is the golden rule for an organized closet, and right now in May, it’s the perfect time to do so, as chilly starts and cooler evenings are long gone. Repeating this cycle in the fall will mean your closet will never be cluttered or hard to use, and will remain streamlined all year long.
Available in 4-XXL, 6-XXL, and 8-XXL, you'll have more than enough storage space to compress bedding, clothing, bulky coats, and more. You can suction the bags with your vacuum stick or the hand pump that's included.
When we had our built-ins made for our primary bedroom in 2021, I purposefully gave myself a small closet with minimal hanging space and three well-placed drawers. This meant I not only had to be mindful about my spending, and still to this day operate a strict one in, one out decluttering policy, but it also means I stay on top of decluttering my closet with a seasonal capsule selection of clothing.
That’s why vacuum storage bags have been my longstanding solution for storing clothes safely, without any risk of moth damage, dust, or musty smells and mold developing in the months they stay out of sight inside my ottoman bed storage space. It also comes with a hand pump for ease.
While other storage options exist, such as BED BATH & BEYOND’S $15 zipper cases with viewing windows, when you’re tight on space, the simplest answer is to compress what you have and maximize your storage options.
Features I Like
I always use vacuum bags; however, once you have filled them with bulky items and sucked out the air using your vacuum, they take up hardly any space. My ones bring an 80% reduction. Plus, the seal on these is particularly good too, so you won’t find them slowly letting in air and losing that compaction that makes them an absolute genius solution for storing your out-of-season clothes.
I particularly like using them for my thick cardigans, sweaters, coats, and winter bedding, too.
Before storing them, I make sure to wash and fully dry them. That way, when you come to switch out your summer bedding and clothes for your cozy winter items in the fall, they will still be smelling fresh and ready to use and won’t need another round of laundering.
I also like to place gently fragranced Fresh Linen sachets, available at Walmart, inside each bag to help maintain that lovely ‘just washed’ smell.
What I have found during usage to avoid the seal breaking and air rushing back in is to leave the top quarter empty. This means the pressure of the clothing volume won’t be near the weakest part of the bag, thereby keeping it closed for months without issue.
Pest Protection as Standard
The tight seal on these bags also means extra protection for your clothes and bedding from indoor pests such as moths, and will reduce the risk of any mold building up whilst hidden away in the warmer months. You can store the packs under your bed, at the back of your closet (if you have the space), or even in your basement.
I would, however, recommend checking in on them every six to eight weeks if you’re storing the bags in an area of your home without air conditioning, such as your attic or garage.
What Shoppers Say
More than 3000 Amazon shoppers rate this jumbo set, which measures 47 by 35 inches for maximum storage, on average, as a 4.4 out of five stars.
One shopper, who gave it full marks, says it’s a ‘total win’, adding,’ This box comes with a variety of bag sizes and a pump. The material is light plastic and sturdy enough to withstand several uses, but thin enough to do the job. I easily fit two medium-sized bed pillows in one large bag to take overseas, as well as a couple of medium-sized bags for clothes. Everything worked like a charm, and I'm thrilled at how effortless and worthwhile the whole thing was! It works, it's easy, and the price is so low!’
Another called it a ‘perfect organizer,’ and explained: ‘I bought this to save space on my closet [and] I've been vacuuming blankets, bed sheets, jackets. This is so perfect when I have [to] store my winter items in the summer. Save me so much space, and it's easy to use and very durable. And it protects my clothes and beddings from dust.’
Many praise the volume of items they can fit inside, with one happy shopper adding, ‘They are huge, and they hold large king-size quilts to store under the bed!’
More Closet Organizing Essentials
To keep your closet streamlined and highly functional, removing out-of-season clothing is the first step. Here are the other essentials I use year-round for the ultimately organized space.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
For smaller items, these compression storage bags will come in handy. Use them for swimwear, stockings, winter undergarments, thermal clothing, and more. They're small enough to fit in your suitcase as well, making them a brilliant travel organizer.
You can add an additional layer of protection by placing your compressed vacuum bags into a zippered case such as this. It comes in three colors, which is useful for color-coordinating stored items by room, type, or members of your household.
Use these on the inside of closet doors, or the back of guest room doors, to make use of wasted space. Each has 24 breathable mesh pockets, holding a total of 40lbs overall. There are seven other colors to choose from, including black, white, and pink.
These ready-made tiered hangers have handy non-slip foam pads. This is a twin pack, giving you 12 hangers' worth of space, whilst only taking up two hanger widths on your rail. Also available in three-packs.
Reduce how much rail space is needed with these tiered trousers hangers. Anti-slip ends prevent pairs from sliding off and making a mess, while the cascading design saves space.
Add useful storage space in your small wardrobe with this slim hanging shelf organizer. It’s marked up for shoes, but I use these in my daughter’s compact closet to add easily accessible storage space for her clothes and accessories
There are other ways to use vacuum bags if you live in a compact home or if you wish to maximize your storage.
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