The first rule of #storing #summer #clothing? “Don’t saddle your future self with stuff you don’t need,” says Wirecutter, “even if your past self spent a lot of money on it.” Everyone has clothing that they hold onto out of guilt the hope that they will somehow wear them again. Take a look at your available #storage #space and make a assessment of how much clothing you can realistically #store. Ruthlessly eliminate the things that won’t fit that space and you didn’t wear recently or won’t in the future. You can #donate those items to ClothingDonations.org and enjoy a pared-down fall wardrobe — and lots of extra space. #StoringSummerClothes
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Clean Your Clothes Before a Wardrobe Swap
A #closet clean-out is the ideal start to a fall wardrobe swap. Pull out every item and decide if it’s still something you will wear in the future based on size, lifestyle and other needs. Make sure everything that makes the cut is washed or dry-cleaned before storing it, since stains and residues can attract #clothes moths. Do the same for any articles of #fall clothing that that need refreshing after several months of disuse. “#Donate or recycle anything you haven’t worn in a while,” Mulberry Cleaners says. “You’ll free up space and give your closet a refresh.” #StoringSummerClothes
Sort and Swap out Your Summer Clothing
As fall begins, the weather starts to turn from hot and wet to cool and breezy, making it an ideal time to swap out shorts and skirts for sweaters and pants. Gather a few supplies: plastic bins, space bags, and shoe bags for the keepers. Then, sort your #clothing, pulling out “anything you can get rid of” and putting it in a trash bag for #donation and grouping #garments by type for #storage. “If it won’t be worn in the next six months, it goes into the storage pile,” says Apartment Therapy. “#Organize your off-season stuff in the predetermined storage space and marvel at the amount of empty hanging, #drawer and #shelf space.” #StoringSummerClothes
There’s Nothing Like a Homegrown Tomato
Anyone who grows their own #summer #produce can attest to the fact that it tastes better than the store-bought alternative. But perhaps there is no better example than the #tomato. “Most of us have been betrayed by the uniformly round, bright red off-season supermarket tomatoes that give way to a mealy interior with the softest whisper of flavor,” says Food52. Bred for high yields, disease resistance and travel, supermarket tomatoes pale in comparison to homegrown or heirloom tomatoes. “Ripe and locally grown summer tomatoes are bursting with flavor, sweetness and juiciness that can’t be replicated at any other time of year.” #SummerProduce
Eating Local Produce Has Multiple Benefits
Fresh #summer #produce doesn’t have to travel long distances, making it a sustainable food source. Buying locally grown foods support nearby farms and the economy, generating more spending and more jobs. Lower shipping costs cuts carbon emissions — a general boon for the environment. And that summer produce is picked at peak freshness, not ripened with chemicals or boxed frozen, meaning more flavor and more nutrients. “Seasonal food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious than food consumed out of season,” says the Seasonal Food Guide. Try a farmers market or CSA while the produce is fresh. #SummerProduce