How to Store Winter Clothes Correctly

March 22, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 1 comment

Not many of us can afford to buy a new winter wardrobe every season, especially considering those bulky wool, cashmere and leather coats, sweaters and other garments are some of the most expensive stuff we wear.

That’s why it’s wise to properly store your winter clothes. It’s not hard to do, but it does involve more than tossing them in a cardboard box on the garage floor. Here’s how to keep your winter duds looking good and keeping you warm year after year.

Clean Them First

There’s no faster way to ensure your winter clothes will die before their time than putting them up without cleaning them. Not only are moths and rodents attracted to wool, flannel and other natural winter fabrics that contain residual perspiration and other human smells, clothes can develop a funk over the many months of storage.

Dry clean the stuff that requires it like cashmere or quality wool, and get leather coats professionally treated to keep them supple. Hats and coats that include real fur also should be professionally cleaned and then placed in cold storage.

Seal Them Up

Make your storage containers as airtight as possible. Large zipper plastic garment bags seal up tight and make a handy container for sweaters, shirts and pants that can be stored under your bed or in the closet. Plastic containers with snap lids are a good storage option, too.

If you’re hanging a sweater or coat in a closet after dry cleaning, seal up the top of the bag with a twist tie and tie a knot in the bottom. But, be careful about hanging a wool sweater on a wire hanger for months because it can get stretched out of shape.

Bug Repellant Basics

Some people like to store natural fabrics like wool with moth balls, flakes or crystals but these products can leave a decidedly unpleasant smell on your clothes which may require a subsequent cleaning before you wear them again. Traditional moth repellants that come into direct contact with plastic can also melt into your clothes’ fabric, so be careful and read directions. Also, keep in mind that this smelly stuff is virtually worthless if your container is not airtight—it’ll just stink up your clothes. There are alternatives to moth balls such as products made of lavender oil.

Properly Prepare a Cedar Chest

Cedar chests have been protecting clothes in storage for generations and they’re still popular because they’re decorative furniture that offers a relatively tight seal if properly constructed and maintained. Eastern red cedar has a natural, pleasant smell, but its effectiveness against clothes moths is limited. Oil emitted from cedar can kill some moth larvae (not large ones) but only if it’s fresh. Before storing your clothes in a cedar chest, lightly sand the interior to freshen the smell and keep the wood producing the beneficial oil.

Overall, remember that a tightly sealed container—whether plastic container or wood chest—is more important for storage protection than what wood is used.

Keep it Dry & Cool

Moth larvae stay inactive in temperatures below 40°F, so finding a cool place to store your stuff can pay tangible benefits. But, don’t keep your clothes somewhere overly moist because it could subject them to mildew or rot. Additionally, it’s wise to find a safe, dry place off the floor, especially if the basement, garage or other storage area has any chance of sustaining water leaks. It doesn’t take much imagination to envision what would happen to your favorite winter stuff if it gets soaked and stays that way for a while.

Clean Boots & Shoes

If you’ve got boots or shoes you only wear in the winter, clean off any dirt and salt and give them a good coat of polish if they’re leather. If road salt can rust out a car, you know it can ruin a good pair of winter boots. Also, don’t store shoes or boots with any mud in the soles because it can cause cracking and dry rot. Treat suede with a quality cleaner made specifically for the material. Store them in a plastic container or cardboard box (seal the box with masking tape).

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.