If you’re an organization fiend, then this post will make you very happy! But if you struggle with organization then don’t worry we’ll help you! While we know organization can be quite tedious we’re giving you all the information you need to make it happen!
The Benefits of Organizing
Having an organized space will only bring your great benefits! It might not be obvious at first but there are actually some amazing physical and mental benefits to getting your things in order.
It Can Reduce Stress and Depression
According to a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, women who described their homes as "cluttered" or "full of unfinished projects" were more depressed, fatigued, and had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol than women who described their homes as "restful" and "restorative."
It's no surprise, really! Researchers suggest that coming home to mounds of items or a list of To-Dos may delay the natural fall in cortisol that occurs throughout the day. This, in turn, can affect your mood, sleep, health, and other aspects of your life. Taking the time to tackle those loads of laundry, sort through stacks of paperwork, and clean up your home can not only help you feel happier and more relaxed, but it will also help you feel more organized. Who needs a bubble bath now?
It Can Improve Your Relationships
Keeping active relationships with your partner and friends is super important for preventing sadness and disease, but a disorganized life can strain these relations. A cluttered home may also make it difficult to invite guests over. Having a regular date with your girlfriends (Wine Wednesdays, anyone?) could provide the motivation you need to maintain your place clean.
It Will Boost Your Productivity
Clutter is distracting, and research shows that it might impair your capacity to concentrate: Looking at too many objects at once overloads your visual cortex and impairs your brain's ability to process information. At work, decluttering your desk will pay dividends, but the advantages don't end there.
It Will Help You Sleep Better
Less clutter equals less stress, which leads to better sleep. However, keeping your bedroom tidy can help you sleep better in other ways: people who make their beds every morning are 19%more likely to report getting a good night's sleep on a regular basis, and 75% of people said they got a better night's sleep when their sheets were fresh and clean because they were physically more comfortable.
Besides fluffing your pillows and washing your sheets these experts recommend staying organized until bedtime: a chaotic day can result in bringing last-minute duties into your bedroom, such as paying bills and drafting e-mails. This can cause you to stay awake longer and make falling asleep more difficult. A more structured life might assist you in making your bedroom a restful haven.
Getting Started: Gathering and Sorting
To start out with your swimwear organization start by generally gathering and sorting out your beachwear. Start by gathering all your “headed to a place with water” things. There are a couple of categories you’ll probably have to sort things into:
- Swim Suits
- Beach Footwear
- Cover-Ups
- Pool Gear (goggles, masks)
- Towels
- Sunblocks and sun-relief creams
- Etc.
Assess and Make a List
Once you have your different piles sorted into categories it’s time to see exactly how much space all your beach things will take up. Depending on which storage method you’re going with ( we’re covering the different methods and why they’re useful below) you might need to head out to a store to get supplies. Make a list of what you might need and how many so you don’t run into any missing supplies, resulting in an abandoned project. Once you have your supply it’s time to organize and label!
How To Store Them
Storing your swimsuits after the summer season isn’t exactly the same as storing away your clothes. To ensure the longevity of your bathing suits it’s best to keep them stored properly since they can get torn and damaged. It’s also possible for them to get stained or faded when they’re kept among clothes.
You might now be wondering where you should be storing them: a wardrobe, a drawer, a bag, with your underwear? We’ll be dissecting which methods of storage are most indicated for your summer suits. It might also occur to you that such small items wouldn’t have such impact, occupy much space in your closet, and require much effort when they don’t cover up your body that much. However, if you have a big collection you understand the struggle! And if you’re dedicated to keeping your swimwear stored in the right way you can make your swimsuits last a lot longer.
Drawers vs. Bags
When getting down to storing things away it’s best to put things away in the exact location where they ought to be kept, and instead of just taking them off and throwing them into a random spot. This can lead your swimwear to get their straps all tangled up and your matching pieces separated.
There are two main ways you can store away your swimsuits to make sure they make it until next summer. You can either opt for keeping them in a drawer or a bag.
Drawers
Keeping your swimwear in a drawer is a great way to store it. This is a sure way to keep your bathing suits safe without worrying about how they will turn out. It will keep them cool and clean, help prevent the suits from getting moist, wrinkled, faded, or torn. Having them in a drawer will keep them accessible and fresh. Either fold them into the drawer or just lay them in so they don’t get wrinkled and tangled.
Bags
Another way to store away your suits is in a bag. Granted the bag is big enough to zip up after placing them in it. You can also either fold them into the bag or lay your bikini pieces together. Laying them will help keep their shape and last longer.
How Do You Store Bathing Suits in the Closet?
If you want to keep your swimsuits in your closet we also have a couple of pointers to help you out. A great option is to get a zip-down bag that you can hang. Put your suits inside the bag and then use the hanger that comes attached to the zip-down bag to hang them on your closet rail. You can also lay them flat on a shelf, a lined box, or a fabric storage bag with the suits placed nicely inside it and then keep them in the closet or shelf.
Why Do We Need To Store Swimsuits Differently?
Besides the reasons we’ve given above, there are a couple of others for having to store your swimming suits separately and properly. Since they normally get wet when used they can quickly hold onto unwanted moisture leading them to develop mildew and unpleasant smells that are hard to get rid of. Additionally, any residue of the chlorine and saltwater your swimwear is exposed to can transfer onto your day-to-day clothing.
How To Store Bathing Suits in Winter
Storing your swimsuits during the winter can be an even more delicate process. To store your bathing suits away for the colder months it’s best to put them in a bag fabric garment bag. It’s important that it is a fabric and that you make sure the bag is sealed properly so that you prevent air from getting into them.
Other wimwear Storage DOs and DON’Ts
There are other things you can do and shouldn’t do to preserve your swimwear throughout the year and while you give them to use during summer! We’re going over the ultimate DOs and DON’Ts for taking care of your swimwear.
Storage DOs
Here is a list with a couple of points of what you should do:
- DO wash your suits after each use. While we understand this might seem tedious, it’s the best way to preserve the color and integrity of your bathing suit’s fabric. This might be the most important tip to preserve your items.
- DO hand wash your swimwear at the end of the season. Using a gentle soap gently wash each of your suits by hand. Look out for any sand, sunscreen, and oils, and try your best to remove them from the fibers.
- DO let your suits air dry. Air drying them will preserve their shape a lot better and even better if you lay them on a flat surface like the top of a horizontal drying rack. Make sure you can leave your suit to dry completely to prevent mildew.
- DO use an open plastic bin during the summer months. For easier access, keep your dry swimming items in an open plastic bin.
Storage DON’Ts
Here is a list with a couple of points of what you shouldn’t do:
- DON’T wring out or scrunch up your swimsuits. No matter if you’re elbows-deep in the washing process or just trying to get the water out before you hang it out to dry, stray away from twisting and squishing the fabric of your bathing suit. Swimwear materials are delicate and can easily wrinkle and lose their form.
- DON’T dry your swimwear in the dryer. While we know that using the gentle cycle on your washing machine might be an amazing way to skip hand washing make sure you aren’t throwing your swimwear into the dryer, no matter what! This is the easiest way to break down the fabric and fade the colors of your items.
- DON’T store your swimsuits in the garage or attic. The extreme temperatures that these locations can reach can be tough on swimwear fabrics. Instead, create a designated space to store your things. This will not only save them from the extreme highs and lows of your non-airconditioned areas, but it will also make them more convenient to grab for your next pool party or beach trip.
- DON’T store your bathing suits in plastic bags. While this might seem like a great idea for the sake of keeping all of your sets together it can backfire. Airtight containers are the primary source for growing mildew and mold, especially for swimwear.
Keeping This Organized
Part of organizing your things is making sure they actually stay organized. Once you’ve sorted everything and stored it in their respective places start implementing these tips we’re sharing below to stay on top of your new swimwear organization system!
Closet Cleanouts
A good way to maintain things organized is by making sure you’re not holding on to excess items. Going through your swimsuits from time to time will help you make sure you still like those that are part of your collection and get rid of any older suit that doesn’t fit or has faded. So consider looking through your belongings and getting rid of whatever you don't use.
Take everything out of your closet and bins and assess what will and will not be used. Have you kept swimwear that you should've tossed out seven years ago? That you no longer like or don’t fit as well anymore?
This is a good practice to do for all of your swim gear. So not only all of your swimsuits, but also your swimsuits, beach towels, and other similar items. Determine what fits or doesn’t fit anymore in your lifestyle. If any of the items are faded or damaged, it’s probably time to throw them away and think about replacing them! Check out our one-piece, bikini top, and bikini bottom collections for some newness into your wardrobe! If you also need some new cover-ups, we’ve got you covered!
Put Things Away
Another way to stay on top of the clutter is putting this away as soon as you’re done with them or they’re ready to be stored! Instead of putting your swimming things down on a chair or on the floor next to your closet go ahead and put them away in their respective spot and go wash what needs to be tended to and get this process started. This way you don’t run the risk of leaving a damp swimsuit in your beach bag only to find it with a bad smell a couple of days later when you remember it and it instantly reduces the mess in your house.
Conclusion
While it might seem like a lot, the main objective of this post is that you get your swimwear sorted and stored away in an organized fashion! Take what is useful and leave the rest from this post and with a little patience and time, you’re sure to have everything looking great! If you have kids get them involved with organizing their things as well, it’s a great teaching opportunity and you get a little bit of help!
Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started so take that first step and you’ll see that in no time you’re done and you won’t even have noticed! Start off by gathering your things together and sorting them into different categories and just go from there! Don’t forget to go through your swimwear collection from time to time to keep it fresh and updated!
This might be the most valuable tip we give you in order to keep your organization in tip-top shape. We hope all our tips are helpful in creating organized swimwear storage and in maintaining its organization! Once you’re done all that’s left to do is get your swimsuit and head off to the beach and enjoy the fun times!
Sources:
The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Organization | Shape
How To Organize Bathing Suits (Step-By-Step Guide) | Swimsuits101
Organizing Swim and Beachwear | Home Organize It
Swimsuit Storage Ideas: How to & Best | Way to Store Bathing Suits | Closet America