Shed the sweaters and the knits—spring is here! But wait—how do you store your winter clothing so they’ll be neat and safe from bugs and storage-room stink?
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to properly care for winter clothes, and trust us and the thousands of dollars we’ve spent on ruined jackets and cashmere sweaters when we say that the the effort is worth taking. Read on for important tips.
Fold, don’t hang, sweaters
Sweaters can lose their shape when they’re hung for a long period of time, especially If they’re made of wool and other heavy fabric. The hangers will distort the shoulders and gravity will pull them down, down, down. Fold them instead, and then store on a high shelf. (Save the lower shelves for items you’ll use frequently.)
When to dry clean
Needless to say, you want to wash or dry clean your items before you store them. Food stains and even human hair or sweat can attract pests like moths and carpet beetles.
Check the labels of your clothes: if it says ‘dry clean only’ then take the manufacturer’s advice. If it says ‘dry clean’ may be washed by hand or on the gentle cycle of your washing machine.
When washing cashmere or wool sweaters, use a ph neutral detergent and cold water. It’s best to wash these by hand, or you can use the gentle cycle of your washing machine.
To dry knitted clothes, roll them on a towel and leave for 5 minutes. Then, lay them flat on a rack and reshape. Fluff them out with a cashmere brush when they’re dry.
Buy cedar balls
Buy cedar balls which can keep pests away from your wool items when you’ve packed them away. However you must replace cedar balls after one year. And segregate your clothes. Cedar balls are great for wool items but the acids in the wood can damage cotton or linen.
Scatter lavender sachets
Lavender sachets keep your clothes and closet smelling fresh and also keep away bugs that eat fabric. You can buy lavender sachets or make your own by wrapping lavender leaves in cheesecloth, tied shut with a pretty ribbon.
Photo from kid-craft-project.com