Packing Away Winter
By Bridgette Raes
It is the week before Memorial Day and it is freezing in New York City. I can’t believe that we are supposed to be in a summer mindset in this weather! However, the time is upon us to start thinking about storing away our fall wardrobes. While I am sad to see my fall clothes go away, I am excited about giving my toes some breathing room and actually breaking out my open-toed shoes.
As we get excited by the idea of the warm weather, kicking off our shoes, and wearing light-weight clothing, the fall clothes that we held dear during the cooler months will soon seem heavy, cumbersome and out of place.
Before we go crazy with spring-fever, it is important that we do justice to the fall wardrobes that have brought us triumphantly through snowstorms, bone-chilling mornings and dreary winter days. Here are some great tips on packing away your fall/winter wardrobe so it is still in good shape next fall.
Clean all of your winter clothing before storing it away.
One of the most important things you can do for your clothing is to pack it away without any trace of staining or perspiration. If you don’t remove all stains, by the time you take your clothing out next fall you may notice that the stains have really set in, causing permanent discoloration. Also, stains are wonderful dinner invitations to insects. If you want your clothes to be hole-free after waking them from hibernation, make sure they are clean when you put them away.
Give your clothing some breathing room.
Air-tight containers and plastic bins should be avoided as they are breeding grounds for mold and mildew, especially in more humid climates. If you use plastic bins, make sure they have air holes. Cardboard boxes are better choices for temporary storage but make sure these boxes are new. Corrugated cardboard can house pests and their eggs…ick. If you prefer to hang some of your off-season clothing, never store it away in plastic bags (especially dry-cleaning bags.) Instead, choose fabric garment bags to store your clothing.
Fold, don’t hang.
I say it all the time: Never hang a sweater - and this rule applies especially when it comes to storage. Fold your sweaters and place acid-free tissue paper between each of them. Stack from heaviest on the bottom to lightest on top.
Choose one place for the “little stuff.”
Gather all your scarves, gloves, hats and any other winter accessories into one, "out of the way" place. I use a big wicker basket with a hinge closure for my winter accessories, and I store them there all year long. If you do not have this type of a system for your winter accessories, gather them up and place them into one storage bin; this way, they will be easy to access in future. Partner any gloves so you don’t have to search for their mates later on.
"Where" you store is just as important as "What" you store.
Select a storage location that is dust free, dry and cool, and out of direct sunlight. Good places to store clothing are in the least used area of the closet, under the bed and on the top shelves of the closet. Avoid storing clothing next to an outside wall, which may cause dampness. Avoid hot attics, damp basements and damp garages where mold and mildew can develop. If you don’t have the room for off-season storage, check out www.gardrobeonline.com http://www.gardrobeonline.com and read our article about them below. They are the masters of wardrobe storage.
Moth balls aren’t the only solution.
Moth balls effectively deter insects, but when they come into direct contact with clothing they can weaken the dye in your fabrics. If you do choose to use moth balls, use 1 pound per 100 cubic feet of storage space, which is about the size of an average closet. We don’t recommend that you use mothballs, particularly if anyone in your house has breathing problems such as asthma. Instead you can use cedar, and if you want something even better-smelling, lavender is also an excellent natural moth repellent.
(c) 2005 Bridgette Raes Style Group
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at www.bridgetteraes.com
It is the week before Memorial Day and it is freezing in New York City. I can’t believe that we are supposed to be in a summer mindset in this weather! However, the time is upon us to start thinking about storing away our fall wardrobes. While I am sad to see my fall clothes go away, I am excited about giving my toes some breathing room and actually breaking out my open-toed shoes.
As we get excited by the idea of the warm weather, kicking off our shoes, and wearing light-weight clothing, the fall clothes that we held dear during the cooler months will soon seem heavy, cumbersome and out of place.
Before we go crazy with spring-fever, it is important that we do justice to the fall wardrobes that have brought us triumphantly through snowstorms, bone-chilling mornings and dreary winter days. Here are some great tips on packing away your fall/winter wardrobe so it is still in good shape next fall.
Clean all of your winter clothing before storing it away.
One of the most important things you can do for your clothing is to pack it away without any trace of staining or perspiration. If you don’t remove all stains, by the time you take your clothing out next fall you may notice that the stains have really set in, causing permanent discoloration. Also, stains are wonderful dinner invitations to insects. If you want your clothes to be hole-free after waking them from hibernation, make sure they are clean when you put them away.
Give your clothing some breathing room.
Air-tight containers and plastic bins should be avoided as they are breeding grounds for mold and mildew, especially in more humid climates. If you use plastic bins, make sure they have air holes. Cardboard boxes are better choices for temporary storage but make sure these boxes are new. Corrugated cardboard can house pests and their eggs…ick. If you prefer to hang some of your off-season clothing, never store it away in plastic bags (especially dry-cleaning bags.) Instead, choose fabric garment bags to store your clothing.
Fold, don’t hang.
I say it all the time: Never hang a sweater - and this rule applies especially when it comes to storage. Fold your sweaters and place acid-free tissue paper between each of them. Stack from heaviest on the bottom to lightest on top.
Choose one place for the “little stuff.”
Gather all your scarves, gloves, hats and any other winter accessories into one, "out of the way" place. I use a big wicker basket with a hinge closure for my winter accessories, and I store them there all year long. If you do not have this type of a system for your winter accessories, gather them up and place them into one storage bin; this way, they will be easy to access in future. Partner any gloves so you don’t have to search for their mates later on.
"Where" you store is just as important as "What" you store.
Select a storage location that is dust free, dry and cool, and out of direct sunlight. Good places to store clothing are in the least used area of the closet, under the bed and on the top shelves of the closet. Avoid storing clothing next to an outside wall, which may cause dampness. Avoid hot attics, damp basements and damp garages where mold and mildew can develop. If you don’t have the room for off-season storage, check out www.gardrobeonline.com http://www.gardrobeonline.com and read our article about them below. They are the masters of wardrobe storage.
Moth balls aren’t the only solution.
Moth balls effectively deter insects, but when they come into direct contact with clothing they can weaken the dye in your fabrics. If you do choose to use moth balls, use 1 pound per 100 cubic feet of storage space, which is about the size of an average closet. We don’t recommend that you use mothballs, particularly if anyone in your house has breathing problems such as asthma. Instead you can use cedar, and if you want something even better-smelling, lavender is also an excellent natural moth repellent.
(c) 2005 Bridgette Raes Style Group
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at www.bridgetteraes.com
posted by Unknown @ 2:56 PM
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