I had one of my childhood dresses hanging in my closet for years in a dry clearner's plastic bag. When my DD wanted to wear the dress we discovered brown spots on the dress from the plastic. The dry cleaner couldn't get them out so he suggested for me to let him wash it, I wouldn't lose anything, the dress couldn't be worn with the spots. The spots came out and the dress looked good as new. The fabric was synthetic so I doubt the spots would have come out of cotton. I wouldn't store fabric in bags for long term. I've never had a problem with the plastic bins. The white acid free cardboard boxes are perfect. Wal Mart sells them cheap.