How To Store Linen, Pillows, Blankets & Bedding

Preparing your bedding for long-term storage may seem like a simple task, but to keep your pillows and linen smelling fresh and withstanding the test of time, they require careful preparation. Whether you are downsizing, packing up your holiday home for the season, or simply decluttering your home, ensure you follow our fool proof bedding storage methods.

What Is the Best Way to Store Linens?

If you are wondering how you keep linen fresh for long term storage, the key is in the very first step, making sure you wash before you store! Dirty, smelly linen can attract mice, rats, and a number of bugs over time, which will do serious damage to your linen, besides just being generally unhygienic. Not only that, but once the smell is locked into the fabric it will be near impossible to get your once gorgeous linens smelling fresh again.

As well as giving them a thorough wash, another tip is to give them an extra rinse. This will make sure you are not leaving behind any chemicals from your cleaning products that if set into your fabric can cause permanent damage.

As a fabric, linen is able to be extremely strong yet cool against the skin due to its cellular structure that allows moisture to pass easily through its hollow fibres, allowing for greater absorbency than cotton. This increased absorbency makes preparation for long term storage even more important, as proper preparation is the most effective way to stop your linen from smelling musty.

Now that your linen is clean and smelling fresh, it is time to pack it for long term storage. The first thing you need to know about storing your bed linen is to be wary of anything made of wood pulp (tissue paper, newsprint, cardboard, etc.), as it can react poorly with linen over long periods of time. Even more importantly, coloured tissue papers can bleed into the linen itself. Dry cleaning bags also react with linen and can become sticky over time.

So, what should you store your linen in? It is recommended that you instead store your linen within plastic Polyethylene containers. Polyethylene is chemically inert, unlike other types of plastic that release gas as they break down making them unideal for storing linens that can absorb these gases over long periods of time.

How do you Store Pillows Long Term?

Properly preparing and packing your pillows for long term storage is incredibly important because they are not simply functional, but decorative as well, so the last thing you want is unsightly stains or musty smells.

For ease of packing and locating what you are looking for when it is time to unpack, it is recommended you take some organisational measures and categorise your pillows. For example, having separate piles of outdoor pillows, bedroom pillows, cushions, or any other type of pillow you are storing. This is also aided by labelling the tubs you will use accordingly to make your life easier down the line.

The next step for pillow packing is to ensure any pillowcases are clean to ward off any unpleasant smells setting into the fabric or harmful bacteria. You will also need the same plastic tubs you used for packing your linen, breathable plastic wrap, and packing tape.

The best way to pack and secure your pillows is by following these steps:

1. Place your pillow inside a clean pillowcase. For decorative cushions and throw pillows have extra pillowcases on hand to protect your cushion.
2. Wrap each pillow individually in plastic wrap and secure this with packing tape. Ensure you do this carefully and not too tight to as to permanently misshape your pillow or cushion.
3. Place your wrapped pillows inside a clear plastic tub and label for storage.

By following this advice, you can make sure pillows stay smelling fresh and feeling soft in storage for when you want to lay your head on them once again.

What Is The Best Way To Store Blankets?

Similar to the other forms of bedding discussed, the most important part of storing your blankets long term is ensuring they are completely clean and dry. Even if your blankets look clean, it is important to give them a thorough clean since they can be full of dust and sometimes even insects. If these issues are locked in and allowed to set further into the fabric, these problems will only become worse, and your blankets may never smell or feel the same again. For blankets it is recommended that you take them all to be dry cleaned so there is no chance of damp forming either.

For storing blankets, you can use the same breathable plastic wrap and plastic tubs as your other bedding. Alternatively, you can vacuum seal them instead of wrapping them in plastic for a space conscious solution. You should also consider purchasing some cedar balls to protect against moths and insect damage.

Plastic tubs continue to be the ideal packing solution for bedding, since cardboard boxes do not protect against dust, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. For the ideal blanket packing method, it is recommended you follow the following procedure:

1. Lay out each blanket and fold them into a fourth of their size. This can be adjusted according to the size of the plastic tub you are using.
2. Wrap the blankets in plastic wrap to seal it off from dust and moisture or vacuum seal them separately.
3. Secure your blankets inside your plastic tub and secure the lid for storage.

By following these steps, you can make sure your blankets survive long term storage and come out the other side good as new.

Where To Store Your Bedding?

Bedding needs to be protected from intense fluctuations in temperature, as well as damp that can lead to mould and hard to shake smells. Therefore, a clean, cool, dark, and dry place is ideal for long term storage. If you want to go the extra mile then store your boxes away from the walls of your storage space and lay wooden pallets on the floor to keep them off the ground.

Loxon Storage is an easy, secure, and affordable place to store all your unneeded bedding. For storage enquiries, contact us today or locate your closest facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my linen smell?

Any amount of moisture can cause linen to smell musty and unpleasant, especially when it is locked in a place with minimal airflow like a cupboard or storage space. Linen needs a bit of air circulation to keep it smelling fresh, which is why it is important when storing not to pack it in too tightly with no room to breathe.

Why do blankets smell after storage?

Blankets can smell after storage if they were not properly dry cleaned before being locked away. This is because the dust or damp inside the fabric was allowed to set, creating a stale smell. Old body oils and skin cells can also contribute to your blankets smelling musty after long periods with no airflow.

Can you store pillows in vacuum bags?

It is not recommended that you store your pillows in vacuum bags since vacuum packing can result in deep creases, wrinkles, and generally misshape your pillow. When left in this shape during long term storage it can be difficult for them to return to their original shape and texture.