Storing Wool Over Summer the Right Way

Wash or clean the wool before storing it

Dirty wool is the worst thing you can put away. Moth larvae eat the wool fibre itself (keratin) and are drawn especially to sweat, body oil and food residue, and an invisible sweat mark oxidises into a yellow stain over the summer. So all wool and cashmere should be clean before it is packed.

1. Wash wool garments on a wool cycle or by hand in lukewarm water with wool soap, or have the delicate ones cleaned.
2. Pay attention to collars, cuffs and underarms, where sweat and body oil collect.
3. Dry the garments flat and let them dry completely before packing.
4. De-pill now, while the garment is out anyway.

Fold – never hang – heavy knitwear

Wool stretches under its own weight. Hang a heavy wool sweater or a cashmere jacket through the summer and the weight drags the garment out of shape, leaving bumps at the shoulders that are hard to remove. So all heavy knitwear should be folded and lie flat, not hung.

• Fold sweaters along the seams and lay them flat in a box or drawer.
• Put the heaviest pieces at the bottom, so the lighter ones aren't crushed flat.
• Avoid wire hangers entirely; even good hangers leave shoulder bumps on heavy knit.

Let wool breathe – no plastic, no vacuum

Wool is a living fibre that has to breathe. Pack it in sealed plastic or a vacuum bag and you seal in moisture that turns to mildew, while hard compression leaves permanent creases. Use breathable storage instead, and keep the garments loose.

• Store wool in breathable cotton bags, old pillowcases or lidded boxes, not sealed plastic.
• Don't vacuum-pack wool – the compression crushes the fibre flat and seals in moisture.
• Keep garments loose, not crammed, so they don't take permanent pressure creases.

The right spot and a little attention

Wool keeps best in a dark, cool, dry cupboard – avoid damp cellars and hot attics. A little moth prevention and a quick check halfway through are all it takes for the wool to sit safely through the summer.

• Choose a dark, cool, dry spot; avoid damp rooms and hot attics.
• Use cedar or lavender against moths, and refresh the scent over the summer.
• Check the garments once midway – early signs of moths are easy to stop.

When should wool be professionally cleaned?

Fine cashmere, delicate wool and anything marked 'dry clean only' benefit from a professional clean before summer storage – a professional clean removes sweat and body oil from deep in the fibres, exactly what moths and yellowing live on. If a sweater has already lost its shape or picked up pilling and small moth holes, it can often be blocked back into shape and repaired in the same round. If you want to put your wool wardrobe safely away for the summer, you can send the good pieces to us. You order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions