How do I store clothes out of season?

Two things ruin stored clothes: moths, which are attracted to sweat and food traces on worn items, and damp, which causes mildew. Both are prevented at the packing stage, and neither is fixable afterwards.

What you'll need

• Breathable storage boxes or bags
• Vacuum bags (optional)
• Cedar or lavender (optional)

Step by step

1. Wash or dry clean everything before storing.This is the single most important step. Clothes moths are attracted to sweat, skin and food traces, not to clean wool.
2. Make sure everything is completely dry.Any residual damp becomes mildew over months in a sealed box, and mildew stains are usually permanent.
3. Sort and discard at the same time.You are handling every item anyway. Anything not worn this season will not be worn next season either.
4. Use breathable containers rather than sealed plastic.Cotton bags, cardboard boxes or fabric storage boxes. Sealed plastic traps moisture and yellows fabric over time.
5. Fold rather than hang, especially knitwear.Months on a hanger stretches shoulders permanently. Fold with tissue paper between layers for delicate items.
6. Store somewhere cool, dry and dark.Under a bed or in a wardrobe is better than a loft or garage, both of which cycle through wide temperature and humidity swings.
7. Add cedar or lavender, not mothballs.Both deter moths mildly. Clean storage does the real work; these are a supplement. Replace or refresh them annually.
8. Label the boxes clearly.Contents and season. Otherwise you unpack three boxes each time you want one jumper.

Tips

• Vacuum bags save enormous space but compress natural fibres. Use them for synthetics and bedding rather than wool and cashmere.
• Check stored boxes once mid-season. Discovering moths in March is much better than discovering them in October.
• Air stored clothes for a day before wearing. Months in a box leaves a stale smell that disappears on a line or hanger.

Common mistakes

• Storing unwashed clothes — Body residue is exactly what attracts clothes moths. Clean storage is the primary prevention.
• Sealing clothes in plastic bags in a loft — Temperature swings cause condensation inside the bag, and mildew follows.
• Hanging knitwear for months — It stretches permanently at the shoulders under its own weight.

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