The Secret To Storing Your Seasonal Clothing Is Hiding In Your Bedroom
Unless you live in a climate that stays the same all year round, chances are that you have to do some seasonal wardrobe rotation every few months. One of the more frustrating fashion pieces to store is sweaters because if not done correctly, they can be unceremoniously ruined. Since sweaters are one of those rare style categories that trend toward timelessness, losing one to moths, mold, or something else is extra frustrating. Fortunately, most people have just the tools that they need lurking in their closets to keep sweaters in tip-top shape, so there's no need to go out and drop money on garment storage bags or worse — brand-new sweaters. But first, let's find out why sweaters are in such constant peril.
There are a lot of household threats just lying in wait to destroy sweaters. The most well-known (and likely dreaded) of these are moths, which feed on fabrics like wool and cashmere because they are animal-based and thus contain a protein called keratin, per Moth Prevention. These little buggers can leave unsightly and unfixable holes all over. The other major threat to sweaters is moisture because buildup can cause mold and mildew to develop, spelling certain doom for your sweaters, Life Storage explains. So, if you have sweaters you'd like to preserve season to season, simply rummage around in your linen closet and pull out some pillowcases.
The alternate use for pillowcases is sweater-approved
Most of us have a hodgepodge of old pillowcases taking up valuable space in the linen closet. Luckily, you can give them a new reason for being by using them to protect sweaters between seasons. If you usually store them in a plastic bag, consider ditching this habit. This is because moisture builds up in plastic, making it impossible for the fabric to breathe, according to LABEL+thread. Then, those beloved sweaters will smell all musty (or even worse, moldy) when removed come wintertime. However, leave them uncovered, and moths are likely to strike. What's a sweater lover to do?!
Instead of plastic, opt to store sweaters individually in pillowcases. However, always wash the sweater (or dry clean, if called for) before storing. Once it's clean, fold the sweater to keep it from getting wrinkled over time (check out this video from Organized Living to learn how). Then, put each sweater in a pillowcase by itself. Add a sachet, cedar chips, or dryer sheet to each pillowcase to keep them smelling nice through spring and summer. That said, avoid using moth balls because they can give your items a pretty powerful smell. If possible, place the sweater-filled pillowcases in a dresser drawer or an air-tight bin.
Other pillowcase hacks to protect seasonal clothes
Sweaters aren't the only seasonal item that can benefit from a well-placed pillowcase. In fact, they're the ideal makeshift garment bag for other pieces that don't get used very often, like formal or cocktail dresses. In other words, protect those and other valued items from dust and such by snipping a small hole in the dead center of the closed end of the pillowcase. Then, feed a hanger through the hole and cover the garment with the pillowcase, as per Good Housekeeping. Depending on the length of the garment, this hack may not cover the entire piece, but it will keep at least the top half protected.
To that end, try not hanging sweaters in the closet, even if you have the space. This is because the shape can get easily stretched out by the hanger and the weight of the material itself, especially if it's a more fragile fabric, like angora or Cashmere, according to the experts at Life Storage. Therefore, it's best to leave those in a cool, dry drawer with a protective pillowcase for good measure.