How to Store Clothes Correctly

Always store clean clothes – this is rule number one

The single most important rule: never put away dirty clothes. A garment that looks clean can still hold invisible sweat, skin oils and food residue in the fabric. Over time these oxidise into yellow stains that are hard to remove, and it is exactly this invisible soiling that moths are after. Wash or clean garments before you put them away, paying extra attention to collars, cuffs and underarms. This matters most for wool, silk and down, which are both the most vulnerable to moths and the hardest to rescue once the damage is done.

Fold or hang? The right method for each garment

Choosing wrong between hanging and folding is one of the most common reasons garments lose their shape in storage. The rule is simple: heavy, knitted pieces are folded, structured pieces are hung.

• Hang: shirts, blazers, suits, dresses, coats – on wide, shaped hangers, not thin wire ones that leave creases and 'bumps' in the shoulders.
• Fold: knits, wool, heavy jumpers and jersey. Hung, their own weight pulls them out of shape.
• Trousers: hang from the waistband with a clip hanger, or fold over the bar of a hanger.
• Give garments air between them – an overfilled wardrobe creases and rubs the fabric and makes it harder to see what you have.

Choose the right packaging – and skip the plastic

How you pack garments decides whether they breathe or suffocate. The thin plastic bags from the dry cleaner are made for transport, not storage: they trap moisture and can yellow the fabric, so always take them off before hanging a garment up. Use breathable cotton garment bags for finer pieces. Clean lidded plastic boxes work well for seasonal clothes, but only if the garments are completely dry first. For delicate or structured pieces, lay acid-free tissue between the layers. Be careful with vacuum bags on wool and down – they press the air out of the fibres, and loft and fullness do not always come back.

The wardrobe environment: dark, dry and cool

Even clean, well-packed clothes suffer in the wrong surroundings. Light, and direct sun especially, fades colours over time, so keep dark and coloured pieces away from the window. Damp is the great enemy: it brings mildew and draws in moths. Avoid storing clothes in damp cellars, garages and sheds, and keep them off cold outside walls where condensation forms. A cool, dry indoor room with a little air circulation is safest. In damp rooms, a tub of silica gel or a dehumidifier helps. Cedar and lavender repel moths, but remember they only work while the scent lasts – refresh it regularly.

Seasonal storage: putting away what you are not wearing

When a whole season's clothes go away for half a year, it is worth doing properly. Wash or clean everything before packing, and let it dry completely. Sort out small repairs now – a little hole grows, and moths seek out worn spots. Pack the clean clothes in breathable packaging or sealed boxes, and put them somewhere dry and dark indoors. Label the boxes so you are not rummaging through everything when the season turns. The routine for swapping between summer and winter wardrobes is its own topic, but the principle is the same: clean, dry and repaired before it goes away.

When it pays to clean before storage

Most of the storing you do yourself. But the rule that matters most – store it clean – is hardest to meet for the pieces you cannot wash properly at home: wool coats, down jackets, silk and structured suits. Cleaning these properly before they go away for the season is the best insurance against moths and set-in stains, and it is also the natural moment to fix any small damage before storage. If a garment needs professional cleaning or a repair before you pack it away, we can take the job. You order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions