Stash location ideas

[Traci H]

In another thread, I mentioned my wife and are are moving soon. I asked about transporting my girl clothes to the new residence under the radar.

My second issue will be finding a suitable location to keep it out of the sight of my wife and others. Currently the bulk of my stuff is in the rafters of the garage. My wife is aware of it and would like me to just toss it. No way. While our new place also has garage rafters, presently there is nothing up there, including a surface to place things on. That may change over time I?m sure.

I have been rolling other options through my mind, but presently have not closed on the home yet, so unable to check them out. I thought I would solicit ideas from the group regarding possible thoughts for a stash hiding place. I realize our circumstances will all be a little different, but something might trigger an idea not thought out at this point. If you?re ok with telling what you did or are doing on a public forum, I would love your ideas.

Traci

[Lisa Gerrie]

It would help to know more about the new home. Single level, basement, garage... ? You should probably consider not having everything in one place.

If the workshop is mostly yours, consider a box that is 1/2 clothes, a tight-fitting layer of cardboard, then tools or whatever on top. If you label a box full of pantyhose "hammers" the weight will be a giveaway. And if half-full, if she goes looking for a hammer, she'll find some hammers.

[docrobbysherry]

If it ain't broke don't fix it, Traci! U already have the perfect spot.:)

Just stick a sheet of plywood, etc. in your new garage rafters and ou la! Problem solved!:thumbsup:

[Christie ann]

I had always stored things in sealed containers in the crawl space. I am the ONLY person who ever visits down there. It worked great until the pandemic meant no
girl time for months on end. When I finally got into my stuff I found a family of spiders had set up residence in my wig. Not a happy camper that day. So, I agree with Sherri, keep to your attic hideaway.

[Traci H]

I love this forum for so many things. One of which is the sharing of ideas. Yes, Doc is right about the garage attic space, my wife never ventures there. I will at some point put some plywood there and utilize the space. May try to put enough up there so you really can?t see what?s up there. Trouble is my wife will soon want me to put things she wants yet yo there too.

I do like Lisa?s ideas about clever coverage of things with innocent looking items. I don?t always want to be crawling up in the garage to access things, and would like to keep a selection of items more accessible. I will have to give some thought to hiding things under cover, say tools or paint or whatever in my workshop. All things to contemplate.

Oh, single level home with full basement and attached garage. No crawl space.

Thanks

[Keremy]

In my garage I have a series of black plastic totes that I keep my tools in that is except one. That little treasure box is full of all my girl clothes. It is the same as all the others but it is locked with a small pad lock. The totes sit sideways so you can?t see the lock and she has no need to go looking through my tools. If ever she did go looking I would just say they are my valuable tools so I keep them locked up in case some sneaky person gets into the garage. If you don?t have plastic totes the move might be a chance to justify getting some and you don?t want the movers getting into one of them so you lock it up.

[Sandi Beech]

Traci,

I used to use the attic space over my garage. Mine is insulated with fiberglass and has some extra rolls of the stuff lying around so I covered my things with plastic then set some fiberglass on top of the plastic. No one will ever touch the fiberglass.

My problem is that the stash got larger and larger. Also my suitcase got up to 50lbs so lugging it up and down the ladder became difficult so my only option was to rent a small storage unit. It is only 5 ft by 5 ft but it works for me.

The attic can get very hot, like 125F or more so it is not really good for some clothing. Other than that it works pretty well.

Sandi

[CarlaWestin]

A good friend of mine has a few fake air ducts in the basement ceiling to conceal the stash.
When we bought our final home, the man cave/home theater build out included the pink closet.
Wife wasn't exactly pleased.

[Traci H]

Boy, some great ideas for sure. I am planning on implementing several of these in a multi prong approach. I will put plywood in my garage and store some things there for sure. However I do like the idea of more accessible storage without the work of climbing the ladder etc.

I see some new ductwork going up in my workshop. A nice rectangular supply line that looks effective but goes no where. That might puzzle an HVAC guy sometime in the future! A removable cap on the end. I also realized that there is a drop ceiling in a large portion of the basement. I suspect I will be able to stash things above that too. Also perhaps some storage areas in the workshop that might be buried amongst all the areas I set up. Lots of possibilities I see now. I value each and every suggestion provided. Thank you.

It just dawned on me that our new place will have a single walk in closet in the master bedroom. Quite large, but shared. We currently each have our own closet and I have lots of things stashed in there, some on a high shelf. Breast forms for example. Now I?ll have to rethink that approach. Visibility might be a detriment at this point. All things to consider yet.

[, LouiseW]

Wow some of you ladies are ingenious with your hiding places.
My son has his hidden amongst his boys clothes, obviously not as hidden as he thought!
Only a few items though, now I wonder if I should check the loft 😁

[Leah87]

Use to rent a storage locker for my stash up till a few months back. I now have my own concealed locker built into my workshop. I have a 6 x 4 x 2 Foot storage cabinet that's built into a recess. It appears to be a secure storage cabinet with 4 shelves containing my tools and test gear. All looks innocent enough. Without going into the all the engineering details, the shelves can be released so that they slide into a cavity in the adjacent wall revealing another 4 shelves behind. And that is where my stash is kept. May all sound a bit over the top but needs must. The workshop is alarmed for good measure.

[CharlotteCD]

I built a false back into the bottom half of the wardrobe, and put shelving from the false back to the front. Then the top shelf was at the false back finishing height and went from the front all the way to the rear.

You could lift the top shelf and expose the hidden recess that was about 6 inches deep. I could then drop things into it in bags and pull them out whenever I wanted.

[docrobbysherry]

Why would u do that, Louise? I don't think spying on your son's a good idea if he finds out.:sad:

Why not discuss it with him first?:thumbsup:

[Traci H]

You all have me thinking. About maybe a tool bench for my basement workshop with a hidden compartment. If I didn?t go overboard, a compartment might be easy to hide, making access easy. I?ve got so much stuff, it will take multiple spots to hid all of my stuff, but it certainly has me thinking. My workshop is currently a blank slate. I will need to figure out dust collection, lighting, tool placement and oh yea, where to hide my shoes, dresses and bras. Not your typical YouTube video. I wish it was!

[Sometimes Steffi]

Now you've go me thin thinking. My workbench is a simple hone-built unit with 2x4 framing, It has a plywood top, and a plywood lower shelf, but otherwise it's wide open. I could close off the front and sides and even make a false bottom.

Sears (RIP) used to sell pre-built large, rolling "mechanics" toolboxes with multiple drawers. I'm sure there must be some equivalent workbench or tool box that can be found at whole depot.

When we first moved into our house 40 years ago, we had the kitchen redone. I repurposed all of the upper-level cabinets as storage space in the garage. Most of those were eventually replaced, but I still have one that contains pesticide and herbicide. It was mounted very high on the wall to prevent the kids from getting into it. IKEA has similar cabinets that could be used. I used one to store bleach and laundry detergent above the washer/drier for a while.

[Helen_Highwater]

As you'll have your things boxed up for the move perhaps it's best just to leave them discretely stacked somewhere, say the corner of the garage. once the dust of the move has settled then get that shelf fitted on the garage roof timbers. It worked before so no reason why it won't work again.

I have such a shelf. Half is household stuff we only use occasionally the rest is my clothing. Stored in plastic boxes with lids to keep dust and insects out, underwear in one, skirts in another, dresses another. Means I don't have to go hunting for the things I want too hard. Use black plastic boxes and prying eyes can't see what's in them.

[alwayshave]

... Without going into the all the engineering details, the shelves can be released so that they slide into a cavity in the adjacent wall revealing another 4 shelves behind. And that is where my stash is kept.
Leah, Did Q swear you to secrecy on the exact mechanics of your releasable shelving.

[Leah87]

Jamie. Yes! I'm sworn to secrecy under the 2024 Stash Hiding Mechanism Engineering Secrecy Act - Clause 38C.

[krissysSecret]

Goodness, I feel really bad for everyone that has to hide their stash of ladies clothing. I was married back in the 80’s and I had a stash in my garage attic. It was a brand new home we built and my wife wouldn’t ever think about going into the attic. I’ve been single now for over 30 years and I’m fortunate enough to simply hang up all my ladies wear in my walk in closet and keep all my panties, bras, etc in my dresser drawers. I would really hate to have to go through that again…y’all have some good ideas though!

[Stephanie47]

Traci, since your wife has knowledge but not accepting you may want to not go through great pains in hiding your stash. My stash is "hiding in plain sight" in our converted garage. There are stacks of Xerox boxes (24+). There are other boxes holding my panty collection; USPS Priority Mail boxes. Sometimes trying to conceal something actually leads somebody to snoop; "What's in that locked tub when all the others are open? Let's open it!" I make it a point not to snoop if I have to enter my kids' homes, so there is an understanding nobody should be snooping in mine. The problem with garages that are not totally secured and attached to the home is the potential for theft. I read all the time of garage break-ins. If the stash is small and can fit into a tub or two, own up to it with your wife and tell her you want to store them in the back of walk-in closet. Of course new construction is the best to enable the buyer to have a builder design a hidden store room. One of my friends did that; false wall in the back of a closet on the upper level that opened to a small room with a skylight and lighting.

[SylphDevine]

So interesting reading this thread. Before I came out to my wife I kept everything in a couple of large trash bags...used to just reach in and wear whatever I pulled out when I was sneaking around. I kept the bags in a closet in the basement.

Since I came out I have my own 6 drawer lingerie dresser and my dresses and skirts are neatly hung in the closet right next to her things. I even gave her two of my drawers for her lingerie, so we share the dresser.

I feel blessed and unique, given some of the posts I've been reading.

[KristyPa]

Two of what I’ve used
1. Hide in plain sight. I would hang things with my covered sport and suite coats, shoe boxes and covered storage containers
2. Now I use a 4’ wide lockable gun case

[Debra Russell]

We have a three bedroom home, kids are all grown - grandkids are in their 30's; my grand daughter and daughter know of "Debra", my wife is begrugingly accepting. I keep all of my fem stuff in the closets in the two empty bedrooms, and mixed with my other male items in my dresser. If any one is staying over the clothes that are hanging in the closet are assumed to belong to my wife ......easy peasy................................Debra

[Geena75]

I have a storage room in the basement. Fortunately, hardly any of my clothes require hanging to stave off the wrinkles, to my outfits are bagged and in a trunk. My other things are in two storage totes in the same room. I do have a winter coat and costume hanging tucked away in an unbothered part of a closet. No one in the house is very inquisitive, so far so good Unless, of course, they all suspect but don't want to know.

[Nyla F]

Garage Attic is too much of a pain to get to, it's really only good for long term storage, not for stuff you want to wear.
Drop ceiling is good, for small quantities, not designed to carry much weight.
I like the the suggestion to hide it in plain sight since your wife knows.
In one of those large tubs place some of your fem stuff at the bottom, covered or wrapped in a blanket or similar. On top of this put a note "you really don't want to look any further". Then on top of that put other innocent stuff she would not be interested in like some old mens clothing you are saving. Label the tub with the top layer contents.
If she opens the tub, likely wouldn't dig through it, but if she did she won't accidentally stumble on something she doesn't really want to see.

[Traci H]

All these ideas are great feedback and I am thankful for everyone one. At some point after we close, I?ll be tossing some plywood up in the garage attic. It has worked before, but Nyla is right, it a bit of a pain to access. Often has kept me from grabbing one of my pretty dresses. Hiding in plain sight with a decoy cover will probably be implemented by me as well. I don?t know how I am going to layout my new workspace quite yet. That in itself is a challenge. Then to try and work some hidden compartments in it will be more fun. Looking forward to the challenge and hopefully more access for me. Some of the things I want to fully hide include wigs, forms and makeup. I think those are things that best stay out of my wife?s knowledge.

[Nyla F]

That just gave me another idea...intentionally leaving some of the more tame stuff (panties?) in an obvious place where your wife might look. I'm thinking in your underwear drawer under your men's underwear, or a shoebox in your side of the closet. If she went looking and found this, then she might stop there thinking that was it. Or at least that would be the beginning of the talk instead of the harder to explain stuff.

As I've mentioned elsewhere I've offered to tell my wife where I store my women's clothes, but she has not taken me up on that offer and therefore isn't interested looking for it. So all I need to do is keep it out of sight where she won't accidentally stumble across it. She knows not to look in my dresser drawers or in boxes in my side of the closet. But I have other hiding spots.

Here is one more from the past: I used to have a dresser which hade a divider between drawers, meaning there was a small space to hide stuff below each drawer and behind the drawer. You would have to remove the drawer to find it. Worked great for a small number of panties. If your dresser isn't designed this way, then at a minimum the bottom drawer could be used like this.

[Dawnspryte]

I once stashed everything in a Marshall 4x12 cabinet.

[Sometimes Steffi]

That just gave me another idea...intentionally leaving some of the more tame stuff (panties?) in an obvious place where your wife might look. I'm thinking in your underwear drawer under your men's underwear, or a shoebox in your side of the closet. If she went looking and found this, then she might stop there thinking that was it. Or at least that would be the beginning of the talk instead of the harder to explain stuff.

I didn't tell my wife. I got caught red handed on Sunday when she came home early. She through a big fit, and left for the rest of the day. Since I was scheduled for a weeks-long trip in a couple of days, I got a storage locker and moved most of my stuff out of the house. I left a few sacrificial pieces in places that she may look. My thinking was that she would look and find them and toss them out thinking she got them all.

I don't know if she looked then, or if she's ever looked. Her attitude is "Once I see it [particularly me dressed] taht she would never be able to "un-see" it.

[Debbie Denier]

I used to rent a lock up garage near my employers. It was the best and safest location I ever had . Sadly my employer relocated in to the city centre and subsequently the end of my garage.

[Rachelsometimes]

Love the ingenuity. House loft under the insulation, yes, done that. Garage loft - yes done that (in a big sack with a wet suit wasnt a great plan for aroma). Also used the back of a guitar amp, but then switched to sealed speaker cabinets when needing to move the stash between homes...I tried in a space under the water tank but worried about the plumber (even though I do my own!). Now have my own walk-in 2/3 allocated for the nicer clothes.

[Celine 9]

I am using closet as a storage area for now. When I relocate, I will have more space for storage of my stash.