to think that no vaccuum clothes & duvet storage bags actually work?

[TellItLikeItReallyIs]

I've tried various brands and without exception they all refill with air over time. Some within a week or so. Some within 24 hours.

The plastic is thin and gets holes easily.

The zippers fall off.

I get there is a value in shrinking stuff to make it fit in a space even if it later expands but they are not sold on this basis

Can anyone recommend any brands that actually work, stay vaccuum sealed and have good quality non-holing plastic?

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These one have worked for me: www.lakeland.co.uk/24143/Lakeland-Vacuum-Clothes-%26-Duvet-Storage-Tote-Bag---87L-Jumbo they are expensive compared with most brands though! (Had a cheap brand tear open today after vacuuming and was wishing I could have afforded more of the expensive ones.

Thank you @JasperRising
how long do they stay vacuumed for you?

I took some out today that must have been there at least a year and absolutely fine. They were cheapo ones.

I got mine from Tesco I think, I found them hard to stack as they were all bumpy. But that could the way I packed them

I always thought this.

Bought some on sale at John Lewis a couple of months ago and they've actually done exactly what they're supposed to do.

Think they were about £12 for a set of 6-8 on a special buy.

I bought some from Costco about 4 years ago, and this week I opened one that had been closed since then. Clothes still fresh. I would recommend them...

The IKEA ones are thicker and work well for us

Lakeland ones seem to be working for us so far

@TellItLikeItReallyIs I think it's been over a year since I vacuumed the expensive Lakeland ones and I've not touched them since. The fact they are in outer zip bags may be helping to keep them compact even if a small amount of air is leaking in.

I think how much you put in may make a difference too - I had probably overfilled the one that split today (given it was a thinner plastic one).

I find they all work well the first time, but if I reuse them then the air leaks in much quicker. I have no idea why.

My wedding dress is in one...10 years and still sucked out.
Recently bought some others and they didn't even stay sucked for an hour

I had cheapo Argos ones that were rubbish and filled up with air in no time. I bought other more expensive ones and they did what they were meant to. I do agree with other PP. You do have to be careful about how much you're putting in them. My expensive ones had a line not to fill them past.

I have original ones from QVC still going strong and more rently bought some more from Dunelm. Use them every successfully every winter to pack all the bedding, pillows and cushions in our static caravan.

If you make sure they're zip sealed properly (squeeze the zip-thing along the edge) and don't throw them down the stairs afterwards they should be fine. I just get the cheap ones from Wilkos or Amazon.
I sometimes pack a few sealed bags inside a large suitcase, so there is no room for air to get in.

I don't recommend Asda's own brand ones. They are cheap but with quality to match their price - I think the ones I used for my winter knitwear expanded within a day.

I can't find ones that don't leak air in eventually. What I do now is just pack them into plastic storage boxes or zip bag things so even if air leaks in they can't expand. I keep a spare duvet, 4 pillows and mattress protector in the zip bag the mattress protector came in and it works OK.

I have some of those Lakeland ones in the loft with baby and maternity clothes. They have been up nearly two years. I was up there a couple of weeks ago —starting to stash my Christmas haul— and they are still vacuumed in their bags.

The other thing, certainly with ones I've tried, is your hoover. Handheld Dysons for example don't tend to form a good seal because of how their vacuum attachmemts clip together so you never get all the air out in the first place.

VonHaus 12 x Assorted Vacuum Compressed Space Saving Storage Bags - Ideal for Clothes, Bedding, Duvets, Pillows, Curtains www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003IP6R2Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9uUADb24868YX?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I bought these, they do work. Stay sealed and have been sealed for over 6 months. Would recommend

Never had any issues with any of mine - I've had John Lewis, Waitrose and Morrison's ones. All been fine for months / years without losing air.
You sure you're sealing them properly?

I bought some cheap ones from eBay and they were awful.
Bought some slightly more expensive ones from wilko and they were amazing, totally noticed the difference. 2 months and no air has seemed to creep in.

I'm amazed by the responses here and its been really useful. I thought this was just a product that only worked for a week or so!! Was fully expecting to be told I was not being unreasonable!! Cheering it's not just me that has had bad experiences though.

@Noroof
My wedding dress is in one...10 years and still sucked out.

That's jaw dropping!!! Do you remember what brand it was? I'm guessing not by your comment about new ones

This is interesting @funnelfanjo

I find they all work well the first time, but if I reuse them then the air leaks in much quicker. I have no idea why.

I wonder if it is because the zip doesn't seal as well?

@JasperRising

I think it's been over a year since I vacuumed the expensive Lakeland ones and I've not touched them since. The fact they are in outer zip bags may be helping to keep them compact even if a small amount of air is leaking in.

I've had a look at them and think they look good so I'm going to give them a try. I think the fact they are in an outer zip bag may help! But at least if they expand, they should only expand to the outer zip bag size.