For those items you definitely want to store away, here’s what we recommend:
- Make sure your summer clothes are properly cleaned before placing them in storage. Even if you only wore something for a few hours and it looks clean, make sure you launder or dry clean it before storing it away. If you’re not sure if you wore something or not, be sure to launder or dry clean it before storage. The bottom line is that unless you are certain it is clean, launder or dry clean it. A garment can look clean but have invisible stains like a clear beverage spill or sweat, both of which will turn yellow over time. Plus these, along with dead skin cells, will attract moths and other insects that will want to feed on the dirt on your clothes while they are in storage.
- Break your clothes into two categories – fold and hang. Fold things like sweaters, shirts, and some pants and dresses to reduce the chances of stretching and distortion. Hang things like blazers, suit jackets, and some dresses, avoiding flimsy wire hangers and instead opting for wooden suit hangers or strut hangers with shoulder guards so that items will not become misshapen.
- When placing your garments into the appropriate container, use clear plastic bins with air-tight lids for your folded items; they seem to work best for keeping both pests and moisture out. For items that will hang, never use our plastic poly bags as they will suffocate your clothes and possibly cause staining or mildewing; instead, opt for garment bags.
- Choose the storage location carefully. Never place your clothes in a damp basement or a non-climate controlled attic; try to find a dark and dry place with a consistent temperature. Extreme temperature variations could eventually damage your clothes, and too much sunlight can also cause color fading or yellowing in whites.
- Finally, use cedar chips or lavender and rosemary sachets to help keep your clothes smelling fresh and as additional help in warding off pests.
good!
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