What is the best method of archiving images that don’t impact copies in other albums.

More details of my current workflow...

I'm trying to adopt using lightroom cloud because of an ipad / desktop workflow. I start by exporting all images into a new album that is used for culling. As i cull and edit, i add images i want to keep in a separate album; usually titled date, title, export.

Now that the cloud storage is getting full, it is time to remove some of the culling albums, but keep exported albums. The problem I am having is that when i archive the culling album to clear up cloud storage, it deletes all the images in the exporting album. I want to keep a copy of the exporting album to give me publishing options.

Im open to new workflow ideas.

Thank you in advance.