WINTER CLOTHES STORAGE TIPS 

 

Summer is coming and it will be time to store your summer clothes. Here are a few quick tips that can help you keep your clothes as fresh as possible.

During the spring and summer months, winter clothes are more vulnerable to pests. Most damage comes from small, flat-winged moths. Wool, down and fur are most susceptible. Proper storage is important to keep these types of clothes intact year after year.

1.     Catch and get rid of any moths you see flying around your house. The real threat comes from the invisible eggs they lay. Extermination might be necessary to eliminate large populations.

2.     Bring all of your clothes in to be dry-cleaned at Kenny the Kleener / Chicago's Discount Dry Cleaner. This will eliminate any of the larvae, as well as, any skin, hair or stain residues that could nourish the eggs. If you have other delicates, hand wash them BEFORE storage.

3.     Place the cleaned garments into large plastic containers equipped with airtight lids. Look for sizes that are easy to stack in the far corners of where you will be storing them.

4.     If you can’t find storage containers (or have room for them) store your cleaned garments in sealed plastic garbage bags. Cardboard boxes and paper shopping bags offer moths many entry points and will allow water seepage.

5.     Invest in a cedar chest to the most optimum winter clothes storage. Sometimes these chests can also double as a family room coffee table.

6.     Hang winter coats and suits on a cedar hangers, then store them in garment bags. If hanging is not possible, lay the garments flat in an area free from water and preferably away from the carpet. Carpets may contain carpet beetles.

7.     Include cedar chips or a few lavender and rosemary sachets in each container. Naphthalene (the primary ingredient in moth balls) can be too harsh for many garments. They can also make your clothes less fragrant.

A few other quick tips:

Try and line all of your dresser drawers with cedar paper and tucking the sachets or cedar blocks into drawers.

If you can substitute the plastic garbage bags with garment bags, this is preferable. Suck as much air out as possible and then tuck and fold the ends around the hanger. Seal with tape.

Try and replace the cedar blocks or chips every 3 months.

If you have furs, it is preferable to have them professionally stored in a temperature-controlled storage unit.

If you have any other tips that we can use or if you have found a different way of storing clothes, please feel free to comment. We value your input.