Authored by Jayant Row in Clothing
Published on 04-03-2009
If you want to use your winter clothing again next year, you would do well to put them away correctly this year as soon as the winter season is over. Before you start the process of storage, just go through the winter clothes and check them up for any damage or tears that can be repaired before they are put away. You need to have a really close look at your children’s winter clothes as there is every chance that by the time the next winter comes, your children would have outgrown their clothes and therefore it is better if you just donate them or dispose them off in a sale, instead of taking the trouble of storing them.
See that the cupboard or storage cabinet or room or even suitcases that you select for storing your winter clothes has been thoroughly cleaned and fumigated, before you start keeping the winter clothes in them.
Before you decide to store the winter clothes that you have finally selected, as reusable the next winter, get them laundered form your nearest dry cleaner. This is very necessary as any food stains and perspiration stains on the clothes would have led to their being infested with insects during the long storage, and you may end up with winter clothes that have many holes in them. The food stains could also further oxidize and cause very unsightly stains. After receiving the clothes from the dry cleaner, remove them form the dry cleaner bags and air them. Moisture can collect in dry cleaner bags and this could lead to mildew forming on the clothes.
Sweater should be folded into tissue paper that is acid free (easily available with all stationers).Put all the sweaters into a heavy duty plastic bag, the ones normally used for trash, and put them into suitable boxes or cartons.
Skirts and pants should be put on hangers with clips and not those on which the apparel has to be folded over. This would ensure that the long storage would not leave a permanent mark which could result due to the folding over.
Shoes and boots that are normally used only in winter are generally the heavy type in leather and rubber. Clean these boots thoroughly, removing all the mud, and then give them a touch of soap and leather conditioner. If the boots are made of suede leather, you need to take care of them as originally suggested to you by the store where you bought them from. They generally require special cleaning tools which are kinder to the leather. Once these are properly cleaned store them in cardboard boxes or shoe bags made of fabric. Keeping them stuffed with old newspapers or tissue paper is a good idea, if you want them to retain their shape, as leather tends to distort when it becomes dry and is unused.
See that the place you decide for your winter clothes storage is cool and dry and has sufficient ventilation. Mothball the area and the clothes, and always use heavy duty hangers for the clothes. Knit garments tend to get distorted if they are hung, so they are best rolled and kept away, ensuring that they have sufficient air circulation about them. If you are using plaster containers to store your winter clothes, cleaning the containers thoroughly and drying them out is a good idea. Storing the winter clothes in suitcases can be a space saver.
