How To Store Luggage At Home + Attic (3 Amazing Tips)
You’ve made it home in one piece, tired and maybe even jetlagged, you just want to retire to the bedroom for the night in order to rest and recover.
There’s just one thing stopping you. For many of us, the unpacking process is an unavoidable post-trip burden.
But, before you get too hasty too clear out those cases and throw the luggage somewhere out of the way, you should ask yourself a few questions.
Like, will you be needing the luggage again any time soon? How often do you travel?
Are you going to need to grab your suitcase on Monday morning for your weekly business trip, or will you be storing it away for eleven months until next year’s summer vacation?
How much space do you have in your home? If you’re in an inner city apartment then space is an issue and you may need to get creative. Do you live in a climate that gets particularly hot or cold?
The final question to ask yourself is what type of luggage do you have? A rigid hard case or a slightly more flexible soft-side one? Or even a foldable sports bag? The type of bag you have will be important for finding the best storage solution.
So here are my tips on how to store luggage at home.
How to Store Luggage at Home
Before putting your luggage away, it’s important that you inspect it for damage and clean it.
Check for tears or scuffs that could be a problem before your next trip. Maybe you’ll have to keep an eye on them in case they worsen, repair them or even replace the whole bag. If this is the case, then you may want to invest in something a little more durable.
Give the case a good cleaning. Remove any particles, like sand, from the pockets. Scrub off any stains, including mud and dirt. Use a damp cloth with soap or cleaning product. Hang the case outside in the sun to dry. And don’t forget to clean the wheels.
They’re likely to be especially dirty after rolling around on the ground on multiple surfaces.
Check the zips still work properly and leave them closed. If it’s a soft-sided suitcase, then you will probably want to close the expander section to make sure the case is as compact as possible. Also, check that any inner pockets are folded away inside.
Once you have verified the working condition is OK and gotten it clean enough for storage, the next step is to cover it.
Make sure the case is completely closed before you put it in its cover. And if you don’t know which cover to use, there are plenty of options on the market.
These can range from disposable ones that come in packets. These are more useful if you want to use only a few limited times.
Each one once lasts very long and won’t do anything to protect a case from any knocks. A PVC transparent protector is a slightly more expensive option but can be used for a very long time.
A vacuum storage bag is an option for covering, although it’s not essential. If you want to save on cash and prefer the do it yourself approach, a giant plastic bag, wrapped tightly and secured with some tape should be enough to at the very least prevent your case from accumulating dust over time.
Finally, you have your luggage inspected, clean enough and in its own protected case.
Now it’s time to choose the optimal location in your house.
Now, while every home is different, you will usually want it somewhere out of the way, unless you’ll be using it regularly.
Ideally, you want a cool dry place. Areas that are prone to dampness could lead to problems with mold.
Especially in places like sheds. Avoid extreme weather temperatures, although this can be difficult or easy, depending on the kind of climate you live in.
For softer cases especially, you don’t want to stack other items on top that are too heavy and could harm the structure.
It’s best to avoid direct sunlight as this could lead to serious fading of the exterior material over time.
Keep it in a place where it won’t be gnawed-on by any animals (whether domestic or wild). Finally, make sure it’s not wedged against any sharp objects, such as nails, that could damage it.
Six Clever Ways to Store Luggage in Your Home
If space is tight or you’re a person that likes to think outside the box, play around with your surroundings and optimize then these six methods of luggage storage could be ideal for you:
- Store your carry on within a larger suitcase. This way the carry on will be protected by the larger case and won’t require a cover.
- Hang your luggage on wall hooks. It’s advisable to check the hooks are sturdy enough to support the weight and best to hang up the cases completely empty.
- Put them under the bed. This makes use of the free space under your bed and allows for easy access, which is especially useful if you’re a frequent traveler. Because they’re directly in contact with your sleeping space you should clean your luggage thoroughly and put inside a cover.
- Use your luggage to store other items. For example, put away your summer clothes in winter and your summer clothes in summer to make use of the case when you’re not traveling.
- Turn luggage into a shoe rack. Or fill with gloves, scarves, extra sheets/blankets, or seasonal decorations. It can protect from dust and dirt and create a makeshift drawer.
- Store on a high shelf in the garage or the closet. First, test that the shelf is strong enough to hold the weight for a long period of time.
Concerns You May Have When Storing Your Luggage At Home
The following list makes up the top concerns people have:
- If you’re storing luggage on top of a high shelf then ensure make sure shelves are sturdy and won’t collapse under the weight. It’s recommended that you don’t store additional contents within the case.
- One thing that is often overlooked is the risk of bed bugs. If you stayed in a place where there is a risk of bed bugs then you should vacuum thoroughly the inside and outside of your case and ensure it is completely sealed in a location away from any bedrooms, such as a garage.
- Extreme weather conditions can do damage. Especially if you’re storing your luggage in a garage or shed. Make sure you avoid leaving an uncovered case in direct sunlight or somewhere that can lead to it getting wet.
- Always consider health and safety. When picking up your luggage off the floor, make sure you do so in a correct manner to make sure you don’t damage your back or joints. If you’re putting your case somewhere up high like on a top shelf or in the attic then check that any ladders being used are stable so you can have full balance when carrying out the task.
- If you don’t have space and don’t want to deal with the hassle of storing luggage in your home, then you can always use a storage service provider who will take the burden away from your living quarters and will store it on your behalf. You only have to arrange to collect it when you need it again and pay for this privilege.
How to Store Luggage in Attic
Your attic is the ideal place to store items that you don’t need on a regular basis. Attics are not always the easiest places to access and can be hazardous when you’re trying to access them.
Before you store your suitcases in your attic, consider setting it up to be accessible.
Make sure you have a clear path so you can get into your attic as easy as possible.
Some attics allow you to enter and walk around. If so, then always take care not to bang your head on any pipes or shelves and if you have to walk only on beams to avoid falling through the lower ceiling, you need to take extra care.
Beware of any nails sticking out of the floor or ceiling. These can damage both your body and your suitcase.
If you’re storing your luggage inside a generic plastic cover, then it’s worth labeling it with either a sticky label or something else that will allow you to recognize what it is.
A vacuum storage bag will keep your case especially fresh, so it avoids any dampness seeping through and damaging it. Another tool to keep it fresh is inserting a silica gel pouch.
If your attic has an awkward layout then you may have resorted to bundling items in a disorganized and chaotic way.
By re-organizing and having a tidy up you’ll make items more readily accessible, get rid of a lot of waste items that you don’t need anymore and free up space so your luggage can be securely saved.
