Home storage, for most people, has always been a problem – we never seem to have enough and that is true in our house. Over the years we all accumulate lots of stuff and storing it can become a huge problem. When we find the time, or even the inclination, a good sort out is required to either dispose, recycle or pass on items but that still leaves us with quite a bit (unless you go on a really drastic cull). Having a good clear out from time to time is very good and an excellent way to declutter but that still leaves the things that you want to keep, the bulkier items that can take up a lot of room such as winter duvets and extra bedding and all that winter clothing now that the sun is popping its head out.
With the colder nights now (mostly) gone, we decided to put thinner, less hot, duvets on to the beds. Not a big deal, but storing the bigger, bulkier winter duvets is – they take up so much room in the cupboard! But there is no better way to store them, is there? Yes, there is! Packmate vacuum storage bags are the answer.
We were sent a pack of Packmate’s Large High-volume Cube Vacuum Storage Bags and a pack of Jumbo Flat Vacuum Storage Bags for review and they definitely help, not only organise our storage better but reducing the amount of storage space needed, allowing more to be stored in less space and have the added bonus of protecting our stored items from damp, dust and household pests too.
What is a vacuum storage bag? These are basically really large plastic bags that when sealed shut the air can be sucked out of them using a household vacuum cleaner, reducing the space needed for storage – after all, big bulky duvets and spare pillows contain a lot of air making them harder to store.
The Packmate Vacuum Storage Bags are available in three different sizes: Large, Extra Large and Jumbo. The large size (measuring 50x85x25cm) is perfect for clothing and cushions, the Extra Large size (measuring 60x90x30cm) is perfect for a double bedding set and the Jumbo size (measuring 90x110x44cm) is perfect for queen or king size duvets. The bags have a transparent back (so you can see what you have stored in them) and have printed instructions on how to use the bag. They are multi-layered recyclable material making them tough, durable and reusable. They feature a double seal zip which turns green when zipped to indicate that the bag is fully sealed. And they feature a very clever value that allows you to use most corded or cordless vacuum cleaners to suck the air from the bag giving you up to four times as much storage.
The Packmate vacuum storage bags are a very clever, space-saving storage system that help easily store a lot more of the bigger bulkier items in a smaller footprint of space. We have used them for all our winter duvets and extra bedding, and they have helped free up a lot of space in the cupboards and now store quite neatly in the underbed drawers, leaving us with more cupboard space (hopefully not to store more unwanted junk). They bags are so easy to use, just fill them with the required items and seal closed (the zipper will turn green so that you know the bag is fully sealed) and then attach your vacuum hose to the bag and suck all the excess air out, reducing the footprint of the bag so that it takes up much less space.
We think that these bags are excellent. They are extremely easy to use, are tough and durable but best of all help store things like duvets, bedding, pillows and even old cuddly toys in clean, secure and smaller space – no more bulkier duvets getting in the way and taking over the cupboards! Please note – it is recommended that if using the bags to store feather and down-filled items the bags can’t be fully compressed as it could damage the feathers, and if storing man-made fibre filled duvets and pillows you should repack the bag and refluff the items every six months to maintain their bulk.
The bags are now even better for the environment and the eco-conscious as the packaging has been completely revamped with a huge reduction on the amount of single-use plastic used. You can find Packmate bags either in a box pack in Lakeland which has saved 20 tonnes of plastic packaging or in a film pack which is made from 50% post-consumer recycled material.
A very simple but effective storage system that creates a clean and safe environment to store fabrics, duvets, pillows, bedding, clothing and soft toys and in a lot less space. The bags even come with a lifetime guarantee! If you are looking for simple, yet effective, and inexpensive storage systems for your home the Packmate vacuum storage bags should be at the top of your list.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: from £9.99
Available to buy from Lakeland or direct from Packmate.
Disclosure: I received these items for free for the purposes of writing an honest and impartial review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
