Article takeaways
- Wash and fully dry your blankets and comforters before storing them, as putting damp fabric in storage is the number one cause of mold and mildew.
- Use breathable storage solutions like cotton bags, fabric containers, and bins with airflow, and avoid sealed plastic bags or containers for blankets stored long-term.
- Down and synthetic comforters need a different type of care, and wool blankets require proactive pest prevention.
- A cool, dry, pest-and-humidity-free space matters as much as, if not more than, choosing the right storage containers.
- When home storage runs out, a climate controlled storage unit offers the extra humidity-free space you need to store blankets and comforters without ruining them.
Changing bedspreads for the seasons, decluttering our living space, moving in with family, friends, or a partner, or simply running out of closet or bedroom space can leave us asking how to store blankets and comforters without ruining them.
Proper blanket and comforter storage starts with cleaning and drying the fabric thoroughly. Keep them in breathable storage containers or cotton bags in a cool, stable spot that’s safe and free from moisture and pests.
Storing your blankets in a humid or moist environment can lead to mold and mildew. An unsecured, poorly maintained storage space risks pest and moth damage, and compression, heat, and temperature fluctuations can cause your comforter to flatten and lose its loft or fluffiness. As important as the storage container or storage bag might be, the environment matters just as much, if not more.
This guide covers how to store blankets and comforters without ruining them by offering step-by-step instructions. We’ll also explain how to set up the ideal blanket storage environment and how to use our storage search tool to find a climate controlled storage unit near you to supplement any lack of space you might have at home.
Wash and Dry Everything Before You Store It
Always store your blankets and comforters totally clean. Wash and dry them by following the manufacturer’s instructions, and be sure they’re completely dry before you pack them for storage.
Why Damp Fabric Is the Biggest Threat to Comforter Storage
Before you store your blankets, check the care label and run them through the washing machine on a cold or delicate cycle with a gentle detergent. Different fabric types require different methods, and the manufacturer will let you know what’s best for your comforter or blanket. If a care label calls for dry cleaning instead of a washing machine, for example, follow the guidance exactly. Machine washing a blanket that requires dry cleaning can damage the structural fills or delicate outer fabric.
Once clean, dry your blankets completely. Storing your comforters even slightly damp can cause irreparable damage. Even a slightly damp comforter sealed into a storage bag or bin can develop mold and mildew in no time. In severe cases, once that mildew smell sets in, it can stick around for good.
Choose Breathable Blanket Storage Over Sealed Plastic
The best containers for putting blankets in long-term storage are breathable cotton bags and mesh garment bins. While there are certain situations where vacuum storage bags make sense, compressing blankets and sealing them away without airflow can cause flattening and mildew, respectively.
Best Storage Containers for Blankets and Comforters
If you’re keeping your blankets and comforters stored for longer than a month or two, breathable storage solutions are a safer bet than plastic bags or bins.
| Container Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Cotton bags, canvas bags, and zipper-closure comforter bags | Everyday bedding; let fabric breathe and keep the blanket loose while protecting from dust |
| Acid-free boxes | Heirloom or antique quilts; prevents natural fibers from yellowing |
| Cedar chests | Wool and other natural fiber fills; cedar wood naturally repels moths while staying porous enough to allow airflow |
Whatever fabric bag or box you choose, tuck in a few silica gel packets to control humidity.
When Vacuum-Sealed Bags Make Sense
Vacuum-sealed bags and vacuum storage bags make sense for short-term storage when space is tight. Maybe you’re packing bulky bedding to throw on a moving truck. Or maybe you’re fitting queen blankets into a small closet to declutter for a few nights to make room for guests. In these temporary storage situations, a vacuum-sealed bag can help you save space.
But the vacuum-sealing technique saves space by compressing your blankets’ fill. If you seal and compress your comforters for more than a brief stint, it can warp and flatten their loft for good.
If you do use vacuum bags, make sure your comforter is completely dry. Trapped moisture in a sealed bag has nowhere to go but into the comforter, where it will start to sour.
Folding and Rolling Methods That Prevent Damage
Folding and rolling can both prevent damage during blanket storage, as long as you use each one in the right situation.
Fold for Stacking, Roll for Tight Spaces
Folding works best when you’re stacking bedding on a shelf. On delicate or vintage blankets, adding a layer of tissue paper between folds can help prevent creasing. Here’s how to fold a blanket for storage:
- First, fold the blanket in thirds lengthwise.
- Then, fold it in half or thirds again.
- The final shape should be roughly the size of the shelf or bin.
Rolling works better if you’re putting your blanket in a tight space like under-bed storage or a narrow closet space. A rolled comforter stored upright like a cylinder takes up less horizontal space and creates fewer creases than a fold.
Avoid stuffing your blankets into storage spaces too tightly, whether you’re folding or packing. Fabrics need a little room to breathe, even inside a fabric bag or storage container.
Storing by Material: Down, Synthetic, Wool, and Heated Blankets
Different fabrics require different storage methods. Down comforters need breathable cotton bags and dry conditions to protect their natural fiber fills, since down holds onto moisture longer than synthetic fill and needs room to breathe rather than compression. Synthetic comforters are more forgiving. They tolerate folding, rolling, and even brief vacuum packing without much risk, and they're less prone to moth damage, though they still need to go in fully dry, and a few dryer balls in the final dry cycle helps restore their fluff.
Wool blankets need the most active pest prevention of the bunch, since wool is a natural fiber moths love. Never store wool in plastic. Cedar blocks, cedar chips, or lavender sachets work as natural deterrents, and wrapping the blanket in a cotton sheet before placing it in a cedar chest offers extra protection. Skip old-fashioned moth balls; the chemical smell tends to linger long after the blanket comes back out of storage.
Heated blankets need a different kind of care entirely, since the wiring and heating elements are the real point of vulnerability. Turn it off and unplug it before storing, and coil the cord loosely rather than folding across the wiring. Store it folded rather than rolled, in a breathable bag, and keep it away from anything that could crush or bend the internal elements.
Where to Store Blankets and Comforters at Home
Where in your house you store bedding matters as much as how to store blankets and comforters. Linen closets and shelves are the most straightforward system for everyday bedding, provided there's enough breathing room, bulky bedding sits on the lower or wider shelves, and lighter items stay up top. A wire or wood rack can effectively double a closet's storage capacity.
Under-bed storage makes good use of otherwise wasted space and works well for comforters you use less often. Keep the blanket in a breathable cotton bag inside a wire roll cart that slides easily under the bed frame; the combination keeps bedding out of sight while still maintaining airflow, unlike a sealed plastic bin.
Bathrooms, attics, and basements are the wrong call for bedding storage. Bathrooms swing between humid and bone-dry throughout the day, while basements and attics tend to run warmer and damper than the rest of the house; a hot summer can turn an attic into an oven. Those temperature extremes and humidity swings degrade fabric and fill over time, undoing all the careful cleaning and packing you did upfront.
When Home Storage Runs Out of Room
When you've outgrown the closet and under-bed storage where your comforters and blankets are safest, take it as a sign you need a climate controlled storage unit.
Signs You've Outgrown Closet and Under-Bed Storage
Maybe you find yourself digging through overstuffed bins of blankets during seasonal bedding swaps. Or maybe your guest linens are stacked on a dresser somewhere. In other cases, a recent move or downsize may have left you with more comforter storage bags full of linens than you have the closet space for. All of these are signs it's time to seek off-site storage outside your home.
Why Climate Controlled Storage Protects Bedding Better
A garage, attic, or outdoor storage shed exposes bedding to the same heat and humidity swings that cause mold and mildew indoors, with the added risk of bug, rodent, and moth damage. A climate controlled storage unit holds a steady temperature and humidity level year-round. Putting breathable blanket storage containers into a humid environment only exposes your blanket to humidity. Putting it in a climate controlled environment exposes the blanket to cool, dry air that keeps the blanket fresh.
What Size Storage Unit Fits Boxed or Bagged Bedding
Boxed or bagged bedding won't fill a unit on its own. You can try to find a climate controlled 3x3 storage locker, but you may need to upsize to a 5x5. To get your money's worth, you can use the storage unit to declutter your seasonal decorations, clothing, hobby equipment, or outdoor furniture.
A small unit is typically enough for several bins or bags of bedding plus a few other household items. Check our storage size guide for various dimensions and what all they can fit, and use our storage search tool to find deals and the available sizes of climate controlled units near you.
How To Store Blankets and Comforters: Storage.com Can Help
By now you should have a pretty good idea of how to store blankets and comforters. Clean and completely dry them, put them in breathable storage bags or mesh bins, and keep them in a space that stays cool and humidity-free. That could be a bedroom or linen closet in your home. Or it could be a climate controlled storage unit near you.
