Storage solution-Don't spend $30 on space bags!!

[bestmidwest]

We were trying to figure out how to ship a huge lot of clothes I sold on ebay, and DH said why not try to vacuum pack them. I said, "Huh"? We took some regular garbage bags, filled them to the brim with clothes, got out the handy dandy vacuum and stuck the hose in the top of the bag right on the top clothes and gathered the edges of the bag around it. Flip on the vacuum, and bam-it sucks all of the air out, and you have a very compact clothes brick. Then just twist the bag quickly and tie it up. It helps get more air out if you pull slightly on the hose while you're sucking out the air. It worked so well, I went and did all our summer clothes and blankets...etc.

[Italianlady]

Ya know...I always wondered if using the vacuum and a trash bag would work, but I was always too lazy to try it my own self. Now that you did all the work, I think I'll do the same to my summer clothes

Thanks for the great idea!

[Bones899]

My mother's done this with comforters. Works great and saves a lot of space. Just make sure there's nothing around that can poke holes in the bags.

[kualalumpar]

I have to try this! We have soooo little storage space, so if this works for us, I will be elated Thanks so much for the tip

[cashhound]

Great idea!

I'm off to Aldi's for trash bags

[kualalumpar]

Thanks. This worked soooo well. To top it off, my 5 year old thought it was the greatest thing in the world, he was so unbelievably excited and now wanted to vacuum pack everything in site, lol, Dh says I need to get the poor boy out more, lol.

Is there a way to get the clothes, etc in a more uniform block? The clothes and comforters went down in size soooo much, I fit a comforter, our summer clothes, and extra bedding inside a standard size suitcase after vacuum packing. Such a space saver!!!!! I am thinking I can fit even more in [more bedding, extra curtains], if I can get them into neat blocks. (Okay, so ds and I both need to get out more, lol.)

[Brittwoman]

I happen to have those space bags and I LOVE them!!! But I'm going to give your tip a try!

[Gatun]

I used Hefty bags last year and put all the winter blankets, comforters and winter clothes away. It worked really well, except I tucked some of the bricks under the beds jammed them up inside the closets on the top shelf all the way up to the ceiling. LOL about 2 weeks later the bags BLOOMED. I had to tug pull shove to get the stuff out from under the beds. I bought a bunch of those space bags (actually over bought if anyone needs some) and what a difference. You can get these space bags for about $10 each. I guess the pressure can't get into the bags to make them expand. I love those things. I have one that I put all of the guest bedroom linens, towels, pillow in with a fabric sheet and I suck it into a brick and store it. When I use it the linens are nice and fresh.

[andee1]

I wonder if you do the bags and then use, like a rubbermaid tote to put it in? You could fit a bunch of stuff in the totes and have a uniform size also, maybe that would also keep air from getting back in ???????