How To Store Your Winter Clothes

Before storing dry-cleaned items, remove the plastic and air them out. Dry-cleaning bags can trap moisture inside, leading to mildew stains.

Fold your sweaters in acid-free tissue paper, which you can find online or in good stationery stores. Then store them in a heavy-duty plastic trash bag, a plastic box with a mesh-type lid, or in a new cardboard carton.

Hang pants and skirts on hangers with clips. Leaving them folded over a hanger can leave a permanent mark.

Clean your shoes and boots. For leather, brush away dirt with a cotton cloth or shoe brush, polish them with saddle soap, and apply leather conditioner. For suede, use cleaning tools and products made specifically for that material.

Store footwear in cardboard boxes or fabric shoe bags. Stuff the boots with old newspapers or plain tissue paper so they’ll retain their shape.

Store clothes in a cool, dry place—not the attic or basement. Or ask your dry cleaner about seasonal storage; it’s usually offered for a nominal fee.

Instead of using mothballs, which are toxic, make natural moth repellants by filling muslin sachet sacks with dried lavender. Or soak some cotton balls in lavender oil, put them in the bags, and stick them in closets and drawers.

Hang coats and jackets on wooden, thick plastic, or padded hangers. Leaving them on flimsy wire hangers all summer can cause them to become misshapen.