Keeping clothes and shoes in good shape when they are not being worn not only lets you keep your favorite items, it’s also better for the wallet and environment. A study in Norway found that most clothing is used for 4 or 5 years and up to a fifth of textile waste is nearly unused. More recent research in the UK estimates the average garment life to be as low as 2.2 years. The rise of “fast fashion” has led to clothing and shoes that don’t last quite as long, and often come contaminated with unhealthy chemicals. The same simple methods to keep clothes out of the landfill work for almost any type of garment or footwear, though good storage can add decades to well-made items but only years to cheaper pieces.

There are a few obvious science-backed concepts to keep in mind when putting away seasonal, formal, festive, or just spare clothing and shoes. By controlling the humidity, ecology, and atmosphere of a storage area, it can be made into a more preservative environment to help make clothes last longer. Keeping clothes and shoes in good shape when they are not being worn not only lets you keep your favorite items, it’s also better for the wallet and environment. A study in Norway found that most clothing is used for 4 or 5 years and up to a fifth of textile waste is nearly unused. More recent research in the UK estimates the average garment life to be as low as 2.2 years. The rise of “fast fashion” has led to clothing and shoes that don’t last quite as long, and often come contaminated with unhealthy chemicals. The same simple methods to keep clothes out of the landfill work for almost any type of garment or footwear, though good storage can add decades to well-made items but only years to cheaper pieces.

There are a few obvious science-backed concepts to keep in mind when putting away seasonal, formal, festive, or just spare clothing and shoes. By controlling the humidity, ecology, and atmosphere of a storage area, it can be made into a more preservative environment to help make clothes last longer.