Safe Storage for Baby Clothes
May 1, 2012, by Debra Lynn Dadd
Question from Sunny
Hi Debra! I am packing away baby clothes for a possible one in the far future :) Right now the clothes are in the house in cardboard boxes but they are soon moving into the garage. I'm afraid of smells and whatever else might get into the boxes (moths, mold, etc.)if they are not sealed. I'm trying to stay away from toxic plastic. Are there non-toxic storage containers out there big enough for storing clothes or are there non-toxic trash bags I should wrap the clothes in and then put in the cardboard boxes? Thank you in advance!
Debra's Answer
Yes! I have the perfect thing for you.
A few years ago my husband and I were planning a move back to California (which we never did) and started to sort through our things, selling and giving some away, and packing blankets, clothing, and other such items.
We found Hefty One Zip Big Bags which are like zip-lock sandwich bags, only huge. They are made from the same polypropylene, so toxic exposure is practically nonexistent. I still use these for storage if I want to store something in the garage and make sure it doesn't get damaged.
Most of the sandwich bag manufacturers make big bags. I've tried them all and like Hefty the best because the zip lock has a slider and it is easier to zip. Also the zip is more secure than other's I've tried.
Also, I went to the Sterlite website and here’s what they say about the materials in their plastic bins:
“Our products are made of polypropylene and polyethylene that are safe for food storage. No PVCs, Latex, Teflon, Phthalates chemicals, fungicides, Bishphenol A (BPAs), or antibacterial chemicals are used in our manufacturing process. Our clear (see-through) products are acid-free, and safe for storing photos, fabrics, craft, or hobby items and other keepsakes. We do not recommend the use of plastic products for negatives that are glass plate, nitrate or acetate-based.”
If you are going to use plastic for storage containers, these are a good choice. I will continue to look for plastic-free options.
These are archives of Q&A asked by readers and answered by Debra Lynn Dadd (from 2005-2019) or Lisa Powers (from 2019-2020). Answers have been edited and updated as of December, 2020.