As the seasons change and we prepare to transition our wardrobes, it’s crucial to ensure that our beloved garments and footwear are properly stored to maintain their quality and longevity. With my years of experience in fashion and a passion for organization, I’m excited to share my expert tips for storing clothing -especially those items made of natural, more delicate fibers like wool, cashmere, silk, and cotton- bags, and footwear in genuine leather.
For each section I’ll provide different types of products and remedies I tested over time and that I found to be the best ones for the one or the other kind of garment/accessory.
Let’s dig in!
Storing Clothing
Wool and Cashmere
Before storing wool and cashmere garments, ensure they are clean and free from any stains or odors. Fold them neatly to avoid stretching and store them in breathable garment bags or cotton storage bags to prevent moth damage. Bear in mind that moths get crazy for dirty clothing!
Add a sachet of lavender or cedar to deter pests and keep your knits smelling fresh.
If you can’t stand the smell of lavender flowers, here are some other efficacious essences against moths and any other kind of pests: eucalyptus, cloves, camphor, rosemary. Especially if you use them together by putting a few drops of each on a cotton cloth, you’ll have the most powerful moth-killer!
Shopping for the right things for wool and cashmere
Silk and Raw Silk
Silk clothing should be gently folded and stored in acid-free tissue paper to prevent yellowing and creasing. Avoid hanging silk items, as they can stretch out of shape. Store them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to preserve their color and sheen.
Humidity can also be harmful for your silk items, so make sure they are stored in a dry place too.
If your item got stained, the following is how you should treat the stain and handwash your garment in silk before storing it:
Pretreat any stains beforehand.
Because silk scarves are frequently worn close to the face, you run the risk of staining them with drinks, food, or makeup. Treating stains as soon as you discover them is crucial to preventing them from drying out and setting in.
Let’s say you accidentally stained your beloved silk scarf; first, place the silk scarf flat on top of a towel to remove any stains. The towel keeps the scarf in place and is capable of absorbing any kind of liquid or detergent.
Next, apply a 50/50 solution of water and silk detergent to the stained area. A few drops of detergent will do the trick. Delicate detergents or those made for silk and undergarments are perfect.
Gently dab the discoloration with a cotton bud dipped in your water and silk detergent solution. Avoid very vigorously massaging the area as this may cause harm to your silk.
Next, turn your scarf over and work on the opposite side of your silk in the same manner. Your scarf should now be prepared for hand washing after the stain has been cleaned.
Never use sprays, perfumes or any other kind of chemicals directly on your silk item, as these products contain aggressive ingredients that can damage silk beyond repair! If you are going to wear a perfume or a deo, always let it dry througly before wearing your garment.
Shopping for the right things for silk
Cotton
Cotton garments can be folded and stored in plastic storage bins or drawers, but be sure to avoid overcrowding to prevent (bad) wrinkles.
Consider using vacuum-sealed storage bags to maximize space and protect your cotton items from dust and moisture.
This natural fabric is luckily not as “sensible” as linen and silk when it comes to putting it in contact with plastic bags and boxes, so you have a pretty wide range of options for storing your garments.
The only damage that may occur is that the fabric gets stained by anti-moth spray or other chemical products, as well as essential oils. In this case, it applies the same above-mentioned rule: never spray or put any of these directly on your cotton items!
Following some suggestions from my experience with cotton fabrics:
Shopping For The Right Things For Cotton
Let’s Recap:
When it comes to storing clothing, using natural remedies like essential oils and cedar wood can be effective in deterring moths (as well as other pests) and protecting your beloved items of clothing -especially the delicate ones- from damage. Here’s a recap about the methods of which wrote above:
Essential Oils
Certain essential oils have properties that repel moths and other insects due to their strong fragrance and chemical composition. Lavender, cedarwood, peppermint, and citronella are some of the most commonly used essential oils for this purpose. You can use them in various ways:
- Spray: Dilute a few drops of essential oil in water and transfer it to a spray bottle. Spritz this mixture onto your clothing or inside garment bags to repel moths.
- Cotton Balls: Place a few drops of essential oil onto cotton balls and tuck them into drawers, closets, or storage bins where you store your clothing. Refresh the cotton balls every few weeks to maintain effectiveness.
- Sachets: Create sachets filled with dried lavender flowers, cedar chips, or a combination of herbs and spices infused with essential oils. Place these sachets among your stored clothing to keep moths at bay.
!!! Never put essential oils at direct contact with your garments, nor spray them directly on the items, as they could stain the fabric. My suggestion is to hang a sachet outside or on the box, or to put the cotton balls in a little pot/glass (without cap) among your items in the drawer. As an alternative, you can spray the outside of the same box, if this is made of fabric, like this one from Amazon.
- Spray: Dilute a few drops of essential oil in water and transfer it to a spray bottle. Spritz this mixture onto your clothing or inside garment bags to repel moths.
Cedar Wood
As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, cedar wood is another great, natural moth repellent due to its aromatic properties and the presence of natural oils that deter pests. Cedar products can be used in various forms to protect your clothing:
- Cedar Blocks: Place cedar blocks or chips inside drawers, storage bins, or garment bags to repel moths and keep your clothing smelling fresh. Refresh the cedar blocks periodically by sanding them lightly to release more of the aromatic oils.
- Cedar Hangers: Hang your wool and cashmere garments on cedar hangers to protect them from moths while allowing air circulation to prevent mustiness.
- Cedar Closets: If you have a walk-in closet or are planning one, consider lining the walls and shelves with cedar panels or planks (if you don’t mind your closet to look chalet-like, of course!) to create a natural moth deterrent throughout the space.
- Cedar Blocks: Place cedar blocks or chips inside drawers, storage bins, or garment bags to repel moths and keep your clothing smelling fresh. Refresh the cedar blocks periodically by sanding them lightly to release more of the aromatic oils.
These eco-friendly ways to protect your clothing from pests without resorting to environment-harmful chemical mothballs or pesticides. Incorporate these methods into your storage routine to keep your garments fresh and safe until your next wardrobe switchover!
Storing Footwear
Looking After Genuine Leather Shoes and Boots:
Before storing leather footwear, clean and condition them to keep the leather supple and hydrated. Stuff them with acid-free tissue paper or shoe trees to maintain their shape and absorb moisture. Store them in their original boxes or breathable shoe bags to protect them from dust, humidity (which could cause mold, and thus badly damage your item) and light.
How to properly store leather bags:
Clean and condition leather bags with a leather cleaner and conditioner before storing to prevent drying and cracking. Stuff them with acid-free tissue paper to help them retain their shape and store them in dust bags to protect them from scratches, humidity and dust. Avoid hanging leather bags for extended periods, as this can cause the straps to stretch.
Remember to store all items in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity to prevent damage and deterioration.
The top would be to regularly check stored items for any signs of pests or moisture and address any issues promptly, but I honestly never check mines…at least the ones I store in bags, and the bags in boxes, as an extra protection from humidity or moth attacks! All other garments and leather goods stored in bags or boxes in a dedicated area within my walk-in wardrobe I do inspect from time to time, like once a month or so.
Here are the products I love and buy on repeat for my leather goods:
The above-mentioned products are the same I use for looking after my leather jackets as well.
Final toughts
As we conclude our exploration into the realm of protecting clothing from moths, I’m reminded of the timeless wisdom of nature and the simple yet powerful remedies it offers.
From the soothing scent of lavender to the aromatic allure of cedar, these natural remedies offer a gentle yet effective solution to the age-old problem of moth infestations. Whether spritzing a lavender-infused spray onto our clothing or tucking cedar sachets into our drawers, we have the power to safeguard our wardrobes in a way that is both eco-friendly and sustainable.
But beyond their practical benefits, the use of essential oils and cedar wood speaks to a deeper connection with the world around us—a reverence for nature’s bounty and a recognition of its inherent wisdom. In choosing these natural remedies, we honor not only our garments but also the planet, opting for solutions that are gentle on the environment and kind to our health.
So let us embrace the power of nature’s remedies and incorporate them into our daily lives, as we seek to protect and preserve the things we hold dear. With a dash of our favorite scent, may our wardrobes remain safe and moth-free for seasons to come!
Here’s to the beauty of nature and the simple joys of sustainable living.
With my warmest regards and until next week,
B&TG