Can someone suggest a way to keep fabric stored in plastic containers from smelling like plastic. I have no other way of storing it but don't want to wash it all either - it can't be good for the fabric... my room is small and I don't know what else to do with the fabric - I have YARDS of it - and TONS of scraps!!

You could use fabric softener sheets, tuck them into a baggie left half open. I would not put them directly on the fabric, as they have oils in them that can stain dry fabrics.
Tuck a bag of potpouri into them.
Cotton balls with drops of a scented oil in a baggie.

I agree with Loretta. Last month, I moved my sewing stuff into a different room and started putting my fabric on a large bookshelf I had in the room. It feels just like shopping when I'm picking out my fabric to use without the sticker shock. I was going to make a curtain to hide it but I like seeing all of the colors.
lots2do

Sorry, but I have too much fabric to store openly without it gathering a lot of dust before I use it. Plastic is my only option, though I have punched holes in the sides in several places on each container to equalize the humidity. They also each have a dessicant thingie in them. I've never noticed a smell of plastic and my smeller is the only sense that still functions really well!!

LMBO ghostrider :D:D:D
What is a dessicant?

You know those packets of stuff that come with electronic equipment and small appliances? They grab the humidity out of the air. New Hampshire may be cold, but it's dang humid up here in the summer. :shock:

Ohhhh I have been calling those annoying LOL I never thought about using them in fabric!!! I will start saving them now, instead of thinking of them as "junk" :D:D:D

Dried Lavender is good...even fresh doesn't stain fabric and the dessicants are a great idea, I save and use them for storing my fabric too.

Thanks - I'll have to look into some of these ideas for mine - I have too much fabric to store out of containers... it's almost - ALMOST - embarrassing how much I have!! ;)

I keep my fabric on a metal shelf inside my closet. That keeps the light and most of the dust off of it, and to feel like I"m shopping - I just open the door. Other fabrics, fleeces, flannels, home dec, etc. are in totes out in the attached garage.

You might try leaving the lids cracked just a little.

About half of my fabric is in my closet on shelves - the other half are in paper boxes - from reams of copy paper - the materials I don't use often, like holidays or corduroy, etc I keep in the boxes, stacked anywhere I can shove them lol.

Thanks everyone - I'll try some of these ideas... except metal shelves in the closet - I don't have a closet!! ;) I have so far to go to get it all organized, by the time I'm done maybe there'll be something new 'out there'!! ;)

I hang large pieces of fabric on plastic hangers in the closet. Keeps it from wrinkling so much.

You might try making large pillowcases to store your fabric in. You can always put zippers on them for easy storage.

I use a small opened box of arm and hammer bakling soda in the bottom of the tote...I know it's there so it never gets tipped.

Donna