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Don't worry though—by washing your white clothing and storing it properly, you can keep it looking bright and brand new.
Prepping White Clothes for Storage
Wash your white clothes before storing them. Dirty clothes can break down and develop stains and yellow discoloration in storage. Make sure your white clothing is nice and clean before packing it away. We'll cover how to machine wash your white clothing before storage, but double-check the care tag on your clothes to make sure they're machine-washable. If they need to be dry cleaned, drop them off at the laundromat before putting them in storage.
Use the recommended amount of detergent to wash your white clothes. Check your laundry detergent container and see what the normal, recommended amount is. If you use too little detergent, it can actually leave dirt and other debris on your whites that will break down and cause yellowing in storage. Using too much detergent isn't good either since it can leave a residue behind on your clothes that will also cause discoloration. Always follow the laundry care label instructions when washing your clothes.
Don't use fabric softener. Fabric softener can leave a residue behind on your clothes that leads to yellowing. When you're washing your white clothes for storage, go ahead and skip the softener. Skip using bleach too. Bleach might temporarily whiten your clothes, but it actually breaks down the fibers and makes them weaker, which can cause discoloration later on.
Rinse your white clothes twice so they're free of residue. After machine-washing your clothes, it can be easy for soap scum to get stuck on the fabric, which can cause yellowing over time. Double-rinsing your clothes in the washing machine can help eliminate this issue.
Air dry your clothes before storing them. Tumble dryers tend to break down fabrics over time, which can cause yellowing in storage. Instead, hang up your white clothes on wooden hangers and place them in a space with a lot of open air. Don’t store any of your white clothes until they’re completely dry to the touch! Storing damp clothes can lead to mildew and other unpleasant issues.
Storing Your Clothes
Open a large, clean, archival cardboard box. Find an archival cardboard box at your local storage supply store, which can help prevent your clothes from getting discolored. Don’t use a plastic bin to store your clothes—this can shut in any chemicals that are on your clothing, which can cause your white clothes to turn yellow over time. Don’t use an airtight cardboard box, or else your white clothes won’t be able to breathe.
Arrange sheets of acid-free tissue paper inside the box. Pick up a few sheets of acid-free tissue paper with a neutral pH, which will help protect your clothes while they’re in storage. Place sheets of acid-free paper along the bottom and sides of the box, so your garments are totally secure. You can find this kind of tissue paper online, or in any kind of shop that sells storage supplies. Muslin cloth can work if you don’t have the right tissue paper on hand.
Fold the white garments and place them in the tissue paper. Check that your clothes are completely covered by the acid-free tissue paper, so they aren’t at risk of touching the cardboard. Arrange each garment so it fits comfortably in the container without getting squashed or crammed in, which will help your white clothes stay in great condition. To make it easy to see what each item is, stick to a traditional flat fold, rather than rolling the garments. Wrapping your clothes in tissue paper will prevent them from rubbing up against the cardboard box.
Cover the white clothing with another sheet of tissue paper. Grab 1 last sheet of acid-free tissue paper and wrap it over the garments in the box. This provides a final layer of protection for your clothes, and will help them stay in great condition while they’re in storage.
Arrange silica packets and/or moth balls in the box for extra protection. Place 4 packets in all corners of the box, which helps prevent moisture from collecting in the box and damaging your fabrics. You can also place moth balls or cedar chips on top of your tissue paper, which can deter moths from damaging your white clothes.
Store the box in a temperature-controlled area. Find space in your closet or wardrobe where you can fit your box. Pick a place where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate a lot, so your clothes stay in good condition throughout the year. For example, the attic or basement aren’t great places to keep your white clothes.
Re-fold the clothes once a year or so to prevent wrinkles. Every so often, reopen the box and unfold the white garments you’ve been storing. Fold the clothes again with different creases, so the garment doesn’t have too many defined wrinkles.
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