Tell me about vacuum packed storage bags please

[DxbtoLHR]

Hi All.

So I'm looking to find the best way to store kids clothes that my 2 DC have outgrown, in case there is another in the future.

I thought these vacuum packed bags would be the best as they take up very little room, has anyone used them? When I did a quick google, surprisingly people said they were not great for storing clothes as clothes need to "breathe" and as these suck out all the air, you can in theory, end up with moldy clothes! Has anyone had experience of this?

If not these, might I better off putting them in big plastic tubs? I'll be storing them in the garage most likely.

TIA

[FoxyMcFox]

I have used them for clothes and never had any go mouldy. They were probably stored for about 2yrs. Just cheapy Poundland ones.

[CokeFan]

We use them with no problems. The ones with the proper valves in are the best. We tried some where you suck the air out of the zip up bit and then try to quickly close it but they don't work so well.

Wilkos, Argos etc. all fine.

[fairgame]

I use them to store summer/winter duvets and spare pillows and decorating clothes. I love them and have never had a problem with mould or anything. I got mine from Argos.
There is something strangely satisfying about watching them shrink or maybe that's just me

[Deux]

I use them for seasonal clothes, duvets, spare pillows etc and never had a mould problem. Just make sure that everything is bone dry when it goes in.

I've used a few different brands and the ones that have been the best and that I've been able to use time and time again are the ones from Lakeland. They're often on offer.

Before you buy have a think about where you are going to store them. Some bags have a gusset (!) in them so the shrunk shape is more squareish. Others give you a flat rectangle. Also the really jumbo ones are great as you can pack loads in but can be really heavy and unweildy if, eg, you are trying to get them in the loft.

[DxbtoLHR]

Thanks for the replies. They seem ok then, is it ok to put them in a damp place like a garage, do people mostly stick them under their beds?

[FoxyMcFox]

We kept ours up in the loft.

[SaucyMare]

Complete crap for long term storage. The seal breaks, the bags split

[Pifflepants]

Ours split but they were only cheap ones.

We used carrier bags in nappy boxes - free, the right size and they stack. But probably not suitable for a garage. We have had buggies go mouldy in the garage so I wouldn't choose it for clothes storage, but if you're going to, I'd have thought completely sealing them in would be better than not. And make sure everything is completely dry to start with.

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

Most carrier bags now are.degradable, and if you store anything in them you will find shreds of degraded plastic when you dig them out.

vacuum bags are ok, you might find you need to revacuum them every year or so, but just make sure anything you store is properly dried after washing , and you should be fine

[happyyonisleepyyoni]

I bought some from Argos a year ago and they have been fine, they haven't split or reflated at all. As long as the clothes are dry when stored and not kept in a damp place I cant see any reason you would have damp problems. Agree that the very large and flat bags are not that useful as they are too big to fit in the ottoman I use for storage - you end up with a very rigid flat pack of cloth that is hard to bend!