How to Store Your Accessories

Storing clothing properly can add to the lifespan of your wardrobe. For example, if you carefully fold sweaters and stack them on a shelf or in a drawer, you won’t have to deal with the pulled shoulders and snags that can occur when you hang them, or knits like them, on a hanger. Avoiding wire hangers and going or plastic or wood can also help your clothing last longer. Have you thought about how you store your accessories, however? The same basic strategy is a good one to keep in mind; storing your smaller items properly will add to their overall lifespans. If you’re not sure how to keep your purses, ties, belts and other accessories in tip-top condition, here are a few hints:

While this can keep them out of the way, it can put too much wear on the straps or handles themselves. Not only this, but it can also push the purses out of shape if they are crammed together or sitting against a wall, in the case of someone hanging the on hooks. Avoid these pitfalls by designating a shelf to hold your purses. If you’re not using a purse regularly, empty it of the pens, lipstick tubes, mirrors and your wallet, and stuff it lightly with tissue paper or crumpled plain newsprint. This will help it keep its shape. Then rest it on its bottom on the shelf. When you go to use the purse again, you’ll find that it’s in perfect condition; just remove the tissue paper and go!

Unfortunately, belts and ties are slippery little things, and storing them in this way often causes them to pile up on the floor, where they might get stepped on or overlooked. Instead, purchase tie racks and belt racks for your closet. If you don’t want to do that, you could hang belts on a hook that you have placed on the closet wall. Another option is to roll them and keep them in a drawer. One thing that you don’t want to do is store your ties already tied; this will create wrinkles that are difficult to remove.

There are two considerations that you have to think about with shoes, and those are wearing them too often, and not wearing them often enough. Try not to wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row if possible, as this can create the situation in which they don’t fully dry and air out in between wearings. Not only can this reduce their lifespan, but it can also cause an embarrassingly smelly shoe! If, on the other hand, you are wearing a pair of shoes very infrequently, then they are liable to collect dust. For shoes that you don’t wear often, try keeping them in clear plastic bins with tops to keep them dust-free. Shoes that you wear several times per week, however, would be better off on an open shelf where they can air out fully between wearings. Whatever you do, don’t just dump your shoes on the floor of your closet; that’s how they get crushed, stepped on and tripped over. Put them on a dedicated shoe rack or shelf.

You can keep your undergarments in a drawer without much trouble; they’re usually fairly easy to keep in good condition. One consideration, though, is if you are getting ready for work while your partner is still asleep. If this is the case in your home, try keeping your underthings in a drawer in the closet, where you can access them without turning on the bedroom light and waking him or her up. Also, if you have delicate lingerie, you can prevent it from being crushed in a drawer by hanging it on pretty satin-padded hangers.

Keeping your accessories in good condition can be as simple as taking the time to store them correctly. Investing in a few appropriate storage pieces can make them more usable, increasing their lifespans and lowering your bill the next time you go shopping!