Caring for Baby Clothes Between Bumps: How to Keep Baby Clothes Looking Great

Few things are cuter than baby clothes, with their tiny buttons and little booties. As anyone who has children knows, these items soon become important, representing our little ones and gaining much sentimental value. It’s no wonder then that people often want to save baby clothes, whether for another baby down the line or just to remind us of a very special time. If you are going to store children’s clothes, however, it’s worth doing so properly as it’s important to avoid damage from things like moths or damp. In this article we give you the low-down on caring for garments long-term, from washing baby clothes to avoiding the dreaded mildew.

1. Preparing for storage

When you’ve decided to put clothes into storage, it’s important to get them fresh and clean first of all. Avoid storing clothes that are dirty or stained as this can lead to stains setting in the fabric over time. If you are washing baby clothes, make sure to do so with a gentle detergent and allow them to dry thoroughly.

2. How to store

The next question is how to store the items. One option is vacuum storage. This can be useful as a space saving device. For those unfamiliar with this technique, it involves putting clothes in a special bag and then using a vacuum to suck all the air out, meaning you can pack a lot into small areas. If you don’t have the facilities to vacuum pack, simply use air tight plastic boxes. These prevent any water from seeping in and are good protection from hungry mice.

3. Avoiding moths

Plastic containers are also a great defence against moths. Avoid plastic bags or cardboard boxes as storage as these can let the pesky little insects in and we all know the damage they can wreak on much-loved clothes. For extra protection, try using cedar balls. These are specially treated (and often scented) wooden balls that act as a moth deterrent. Lay them on top of the clothes with a piece of tissue paper in-between (to prevent direct contamination).

4. Keeping mildew and damp at bay

Finally, one of the biggest dangers when it comes to protecting stored clothes is keeping mildew and damp at bay. To do so, always make sure your boxes are sealed properly. It you don’t have plastic boxes, the zipped up bags in which duvets are sold make a good alternative. For extra prevention, try using charcoal filters. These are designed to take moisture out of the air. Add a few drops of essential oil to avoid any charcoal-y smell getting into your clothes.

Those are our top tips on storing your children’s clothes for whenever you need them next. Washing baby clothes is an important first step, then leave them in air-tight containers with a little charcoal nearby to ward off the damp.

Disclaimer: This post is a pre-written guest post published on behalf of the team at Maverns.