I have noticed that whenever I look at everyone's posts of their rooms their fabrics are all exposed and not in containers. Many of you have large quantities of fabrics that cant possibly be used quickly. Of course I fall into that category too lol

My question is -

How do you prevent the fabric from getting dusty or picking up household odors?

I keep mine in clear plastic totes - is this wrong? Would like to know opinions please cheryl :D

I am new at this, but I bought big cupboards with doors for this reason. Also I can keep it all hidden and neat in there :)

My fabric storage area is in a closet with bi-fold louvered doors. I put shelves in the closet and that's where I store my fabric. I've tried using tubs, but I found myself spending more time digging through tubs than sewing. I don't think storing fabric in tubs is a bad idea (my sister does it), it just doesn't work for me.

I am using a glass front china cabinet to store my fabrics, but they certainly aren't organized very well.
I still lose fabric in there :(

Janet

i store my fabrics on shelves, i do have a drop=down cover over the shelves but they are very seldom covered...i am always into them so tend to keep them open. i go through them all so often i don't think there is much chance of dust collecting :)
even the years old ufos i still take out and at least look at every couple months...some is in totes, like holiday fabrics i only get into for a short period of time, the rest is out where i can see it and grab what i need. i tried keeping it all in totes but had to waste alot of time searching every time i needed something - so that didn't work so well for me.

I've always stored my fabric behind closed doors, for fade and dust prevention.

Jan in VA

I keep mine in plastic tubs but because the tubs are clear, it's not hard to see the fabric if I fold it right so that it shows. I can pretty much see what I have

Fabric shouldn't be stored in the light. Containers probably protect the fabric from the light a bit. I'm more worried about fading than anything. I've received MANY bits of fabrics from ladies who store fabric on shelves and they've been ruined with fade lines:<

I have found same thing!! There iare a couple rows of fabric close to windows at my JoAnns store that I wont buy anything off of because of that plus its close to doors! Shame really because some of it is some nice fleece and the other is cotton apparell fabrics!! I have mentioned this to them but to no avail lol

I used plastic tubs for a long time and still keep holiday fabrics in them but like others, I spent too much time digging through bins and forget what I had, etc. Just didn't work for me. Also, stores don't "store" it that way, so what's the difference if it's on their shelves or mine? That's just what works for me.

Fabrics in stores are sold off, the bolts are unrolled and not in the sunlight forever. Big difference.

I purchased a large, cheap, white, cabinet with shelves from Home Depot. I store all my fabric in there to prevent them from fading, epecially in the creases. It keeps the dust from them as well.
I don't keep them in plastic storage bins unless they have a few holes in them or the lid is not tightly closed.
Someone told me the fabric should have air. Not so sure about this but it sounds good. lol

I would never use plastic containers because of the
formaldhyde gasses that develops when fabric is stored
in plastic. Fabric needs to be able to breath.

Most of my fabrics are in cabinets with closed doors. I do have some overflow in the garage in rubbermaid totes (about 10 of them or so)

I keep mine in clear plastic bins with lids.

OMgosh. Now that's a stash. LOL.
I use containers I can see thru too. No smells can get in there. If you have animals or something, then put a downy sheet in each one, YOu can get the non-scented ones too. If you keep some in china cabinets and closets, my mom used to keep a small cup of water on a shelf so the fabric won't dry out. We have japanese dolls she made and the water has kept the fabric soft and new for years. Just fill it once a week.

I want your storage cabinets lol :mrgreen:

When we did my room, I insisted on cabinets with doors because I got so tired of digging through totes, relabeling totes, lifting up the totes, etc. etc. Opening cabinet doors and finding exactly what you want saves time and muscle strength that some days I don't feel like using. LOL. Keeps the dust off, which was another big factor. To me, there is nothing that is more of a pain that digging in totes, in boxes, in bags, in different rooms, etc. for anything. Organization lets me give more time to what I really want to do. I have a plastic 3 drawer organizer (on wheels) that I put extra scraps of fabric, small pieces of batting in another drawer, and the third drawer has felt and scraps of whatnot fabrics used for crafts. My pics are posted if you havent seen them. But, I am jealous of so many rooms shown on here!

I have a couple of the 4-drawer organizers that I keep my fat quarters and scraps and stuff in.

I'm jealous of yours too Sweetp2dt. LOL. We all have our own way. You wanna really be jeolous??? Go read Lostin 51's post. He is building another shop/etc. Wow.