Before you start
Start with clothes from just one season. Gather a tape measure, paper labels and containers you already own. Check care labels. Choose storage around the garments, their condition and your available space rather than a capacity figure in litres alone.
Sort into four groups
Separate clothes ready to store from those needing cleaning or repair. Keep a third group accessible for changeable weather. A fourth group contains things you no longer intend to wear. This prevents an unfinished repair pile disappearing into the wardrobe for another six months.
Try it before buying
Mark four areas on a bed or table. Begin packing only the group that is clearly ready.
Store clean and completely dry
Follow each garment’s care instructions and allow it to dry before packing. Woolmark advises storing merino jumpers clean and completely dry. Check thick seams and cuffs as well as the surface. Changing containers is not a solution for damp clothing.
Try it before buying
Inspect each piece before packing. Keep damp items or anything needing further attention outside the completed group.
Measure the access route too
Measure not only the space but also the bed edge, legs, cupboard opening and door. A 19 cm-high bag may not slide under a bed with exactly 19 cm clearance: filling and handles can require extra room. Compare the filled outer dimensions and the manufacturer’s specifications.
Try it before buying
Slide an existing box of similar size through the opening. If it needs tilting sharply or moving furniture first, choose smaller units.
Match the container to the contents
Folded knitwear, T-shirts and garments vulnerable to losing their shape do not all need the same storage. Use vacuum bags only after checking that both bag and garment manufacturers permit this use. A space-saving claim does not establish compatibility with every textile. Do not force a zip closed over a bulging load.
Try it before buying
Loosely fill one container with a single group. Check its weight, shape and accessibility before buying several matching containers.
Label the outside and plan the return
Include person, contents and season, for example “A · summer tops · 2026”. A short paper inventory helps with opaque boxes. Keep transitional clothes at the front. At the next changeover, check condition and usefulness before putting everything away again.
Try it before buying
Ask another household member to find a particular item using the labels. If several boxes must be opened, narrow the groups or improve their descriptions.
Example: one space, two groups
Your usable space measures 90 × 55 cm with 24 cm clear height. Two bags measuring 43 × 53 × 19 cm occupy a nominal 86 cm side by side. That leaves 4 cm in total, not on each side. Still check the cupboard opening, filled sides and room for your hands.
You might put summer tops in one bag and light trousers in the other. Label the visible ends. If you must remove one bag to reach the other, access matters more than using every centimetre. Keep heavy containers in an easily reachable position.
Compare containers
| Option | Better suited to … | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Zipped fabric bag | Light groups of folded clothing. | No blanket guarantee against moisture or pests. |
| Rigid box | Defined groups in a matching space. | Check dimensions with the lid and access room. |
| Vacuum bag | Textiles explicitly suitable for compression storage. | Check compression and material compatibility. |
A concrete example to compare
IKEA SKUBB · 605.910.47
43 cm wide, 53 cm deep and 19 cm high for this article number.
A fabric case as an example for folded seasonal clothing. Check the filled outer dimensions and the entire removal route.
Manufacturer care instructions exclude washing and specify a vacuum cleaner or lint roller. Do not assume older SKUBB variants have identical dimensions.
Check manufacturer specifications →
Selected from manufacturer specifications, not our own product test. This is not an affiliate link. Details checked on 2 October 2026.
Your checklist
Check these points before choosing a solution. Tick marks apply only to this visit.