With easy carry handles and a viewing window to let you see what’s inside at a glance, the bag also folds flat for storage when not in use. This large 87 litre version is perfect for storing a king-size duvet and four pillows. If you’re after generously sized storage options, then these are the best vacuum storage bags. They come in a set of six, and we found that one bag held two pillows plus three sets of sheets without even meeting the maximum fill line. In part, that’s thanks to their cube-shaped bottom design, which means the bags stand upright, allowing for an easier loading process. This may sound obvious, but the best vacuum storage bags are the ones that compress well and don’t leak, keeping your clothes compact and airtight until the point you choose to reopen the bag.

Unzip the vacuum bag (choosing an appropriately sized bag for your contents). Carefully add the contents and arrange them to make the best use of the space. Depending on the vacuum storage bags you buy, you may find that accessories come with them. You can buy just the bags by themselves, of course. But some brands include a hand pump or even an electric pump as an alternative to using a vacuum cleaner—which can be ideal for traveling when you typically won’t have access to a vacuum for sealing the bags. A useful space-saving and storage tool, vacuum storage bags are a practical and cost-efficient way to maximise space, keeping clothes, bedding and other garments clean and protected when not in use. Using the power and suction of a vacuum cleaner, vacuum storage bags reduce the air trapped between layers of clothes and garments to remove bulk, making them flatter, smaller and far easier to store.Sometimes, closet space is all the storage area you have to spare. In that case, these are the best vacuum storage bags since they come with a hanger for easy vertical storage. They come in two sizes, with two bags included per size.

Take the lid of the suction valve and attach the nozzle of your vacuum or pump before powering up and using the suction to remove all the unwanted air from the bag. Yes, although vacuum storage bags may crease, most good quality vacuum storage bags are reusable if stored correctly when not in use. What can you put in vacuum storage bags? These perform slightly better with the hand pump, so you may want to skip sealing with a wet/dry vacuum. We didn’t feel that using the bag was very easy, though. We struggled to lay the coats flat within the bag because of the zipper’s placement on the long edge of the bag. We also had to search for sealing instructions online, and found it difficult to properly align the vacuum with the bag’s valve. The bag’s design meant the coats were pressed up against the valve, interfering with airflow, which then led to a longer compression time—about 2.5 minutes. Both bags remained sealed after 24 hours with no significant signs of air leakage, plus they kept the towels dry under water. The vacuum sealed bag increased in size by about 3.7% while the hand pumped one actually shrunk another 2% after 24 hours. Neither showed wear and tear after our 24-hour test, although the towels needed to be fluffed up to remove indentations afterward. Our tests show that these are designed to work well with the hand pump that’s included, which makes the bag a must-have for travelers looking to save precious luggage space.Usage instructions may vary from one brand to another but as a general rule here’s how to use vacuum storage bags: We loved the capacity of the larger size bag, which fit five hip-length coats along with their hangers. We didn’t love the thinner plastic that didn’t feel terribly sturdy, yet it held up to the 24-hour compression test with no tears. We measured a decrease in size of nearly 12% immediately after sealing the bag, with a negligible increase in size after 24 hours. Plus, the bag didn’t allow water in when it was submerged for a full minute.

What size bags do you need? - Vacuum storage bags come in a variety of sizes. Extra large and jumbo bags are more suitable for larger duvets and bedding sets, whereas small bags may be a better option for storing summer items such as vests and t-shirts. Vacuum sealing the bags with a wet/dry vac allowed us to fit all five sheet sets in the bag while the hand pump only allowed for three sheet sets. We found the sealing process for both options to be quite simple and straightforward, with both the vacuum nozzle and the hand pump fitting easily into the bag’s valve. Sealing with the wet/dry vacuum took only 18 seconds, while the hand pump seal took a full minute—something to note if you’re in a time crunch. Both sealed bags fit nicely in the 12-inch storage space under a queen bed and on a shelf meant for cube storage. Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer of Neat Little Nest, says it depends. “While a vacuum seal bag can save space by shrinking items down, the result of a large plastic bag filled with stuff needs a place to go,” she says. “Without having a good place to store those vacuum bags (a proper-sized shelf, for example), you might not have gained that much storage space.” Vig recommends viewing vacuum storage bags as long-term storage since it can be difficult to access items and reseal frequently. Frequent travelers will find these to be the best vacuum storage bags, in part because the set of 10 bags comes with a hand pump for easy use while you’re on the go. We tested out the small bags, and the set contains eight more in four additional sizes, including a travel-friendly roll-up style, a feature Vig recommends. We were able to fit two towels in the small bag, although it was a bit of a struggle and our testers resorted to stuffing the towels in versus folding them neatly.Be aware - some brands recommend that you refresh the suction or air the clothing around every six months for best results. Jill Moore, owner and certified professional home organizer of Organized Jill Professional Home Organization advises, “Be sure to not overstuff vacuum bags and utilize the correct size.” She adds, “It is better to place less things in more bags for easier retrieval without having to dig through a large pile.” This the best vacuum storage bag if you have extra bedding to stash away. It was able to handle two pillows as well as three sheet sets. And despite holding that much, the bag’s circumference shrank by more than 10 inches, making it especially handy for smaller storage spaces. We could easily place it under a bed, and it still fit nicely in this 12-inch space after we folded the bag and its contents in half—meaning it’s perfect for storing lots of items in a compact area.

After testing, we found that the Gongshi Vacuum Storage Bags are the best vacuum storage bags. They earned top marks in each of our categories, plus they’re easy to use, durable, stored five sheet sets, and kept air and water out. We researched the pros and cons of each vacuum storage bag, including assessing each product’s effectiveness in terms of durability and the quality of compression. We also looked out for any products prone to leakage and investigated whether these were down to user error or genuine product flaws. Items made from wool or fur could become damaged if stored for too long in a vacuum storage bag. How to choose the best vacuum storage bagsWith easy carry handles and a viewing window to let you see what’s inside at a glance, the bag also folds flat for storage when not in use. This 38 litre version is ideal for storing a single duvet and two pillows. You may not want to use these for storing zippered or embellished clothing since the thin plastic could tear. In terms of the type of items you’re storing, you’ll want to consider how the material might interact with the bags. Vig explains, “Some types of materials store better in containers/bags that can breathe—like natural fabrics (think cashmere). I would prefer to use linen boxes to store those types of items than plastic airtight bags or bins.” Moore agrees, adding, “Different fabrics may react differently to being stored without air circulation and ventilation. Damage could occur to certain fabrics if they were not intended to be stored in this manner.” The bag includes a bit of bubble wrap, so it has some cushioning for delicate clothing. We observed that the bag felt thin, but found it held up to the compression process with no tears—just a bit of wrinkling afterward. However, it might be wise to avoid using them to store zippered clothing or sweaters with metal embellishments in case they tear the thin plastic.