I've had mine in Rubbermaid totes for about 15 years, and there is no damage. Of course, it's not sealed up tight, and I am always rummaging through them, so there is plenty of air circulation.

Rot would come from water or bugs or other outside factors rather than just "happening" in old fabric.

I'm like Cathe, I store my fabric in Big Plastic Tubs, No fear of it rotting from lack of air, I'm in them always. I share what I have, if I have something that someone says they want or would like, ( considering of course, I don't have plans for it). I've met a Very Dear Friend on this board, that lives in Ala, we have gotton together twice already, I'm going to her house this summer. And we share and give fabric as well as books to each other. Shes taken pictures of lots of my quilts, I also just recentley shared some of my vintage fabric with her, since I was given 81 flour sacks, Also shared some very vintage dresden plate pieces, that will be used for framing. She shares with me, I share with her. I love to share with friends, and shes one that is top on my list. Is'nt that what quilters do? Share.

I'm with you, Country Quilter...she who dies with the most fabric WINS and I've already made fabric storage reservations with St. Peter!

Seriously, I made a quilt for the back of the couch about 6 years ago and early in the morning the sun hits the quilt...bad news! The sun, I'm sure, rotted the fabric in my quilt so now I don't open the drapes until the sun gets over the house which is only about a hour longer than normal as we have a mountain in front of our house that shades us nicely but I did learn that the sun is mean on quilts.

I have an antiqe quilt that was made by my grandmother 80 years ago that is in great shape but does have some loose weave or damaged areas but the first few years of it's life it was used on my grandparents bed so it's had some use.

Feathers

I have fabric beyond my lifetime expectancy now, and yet I buy more. I've been building my collections for over thirty years. It is important to keep it out of the sun, because sunlight damages fabric - as Feathers pointed out. I store fabric on shelves and in rubber maid tubs and on the sewing room floor... The floor is where fabric for current project winds up. Shelves are better than the tubs, because I tend to forget about fabric in the tubs.

I am so glad this question was asked! I have had some fabric stored in a Rubermaid tub for about 4 years and probably have been in it searching since then very few times. Should I worry about it or remove it?

I store mine in Rubbermaid bins....and I even have some in cardboard (Avon) boxes....which I already know is BAD for it but I do it....I move it around so much that it doesn't have time to get bad....I'm in them ALL the time! and they don't even end up in the same bin or box....when I put them away again they are all refolded just by chance... I don't worry... some of my older stuff I've found stains on...I just cut around it...and use it...

If I was doing this for contests or something I would buy new ...but for me right now most of what I make is for fun...relatives, me, whoever....so it works for me!

When it gets really bad...hubby gets new rags for his garage!

I keep most of my fabric in plastic tubs and like the other gals who posted above, I am in it so often that there is plenty of air flow. As long as you are into your rubbermaids often I don't think it would be a problem. Although Rubbermaid probably seals a lot better than my cheap Walmart bins. If that's the case, I'd probably just crack the lid to allow for air flow and not worry about it. Hope that helps.

Plastic bins and shelves crammed full of washed, neatly folded fabric are my mainstays, but I must confess I have an enormous amount of blue fabrics in a huge, messy pile on my floor. I'm using them for several different quilts (all scrappy) and it's just easier to leave them out rather than folding them and putting them away just to take them back out again. I figure no one but me and my hedgehogs go into my quilt room (husband ventures in only when he has to) so only I see the messy pile. :P
~Tiffany

Ok, ok, confession time. I said it wouldn't grow to over one, but I've two large and one small Rubbermaid type bin already. My question is how do you keep it all straightened out Cathe? I too rummage constantly, and they're always in disarray. It could be worse I suppose, but doing double and triple ironing duty kinda sucks. Grrr... I wonder if they have king size walk in tubs? :lol:

I have fabric that is 20 years old from my sewing days. It is stored in plastic totes with a few small holes drilled on the lids and on the sides. I just checked and all seems fine. Found some beautiful fabrics in those boxes so I might just sew me some new clothes for spring/summer. What fun finding this stash!. As long as the fabric can breathe it should last a long time if stored properly. If a quilt can last a hundred years or more why can't our fabric? Thanks for the question Melissa; as I found a forgotten teasure.
Connie

A GENIUS!!! King-size walk-in tubs!!!! I want three of them! :lol:

Well, mine aren't very tidy, but they are sorted. And I do try to go through them periodically and slice any really small pieces into 1 1/2" or 2" strips (which go into their own tubs). When I have rummaged and am ready to put things back, I TRY to take the time and self-discipline to fold them instead of cramming them back into the tub. It helps if the tubs aren't too full, but they usually are. So often I do have to iron before I cut. I keep a spray bottle of water handy and I have a hot Rowenta iron, so it's not that big a deal most of the time.

I need to do serious stash reduction. I have the most indulgent husband in the world, but he is starting to look askance at the number of Rubbermaid totes in the attic. I have assured him that they are great insulation and help keep our heating bills down, but I don't think he's convinced.