How to Store Everything

And store it right

by Teri Cettina

You’ve cleared out the clutter and bought nifty containers for everything you’ve decided to keep. But wait: Are you sure that chic fabric-covered box will keep your favorite sweater safe from moths? And have you figured out how to keep your grandparents’ love letters around for the next generation to enjoy?

Smart storage isn’t just about beautiful boxes and color-coordinated hangers. Excessive light, moisture and pests are just a few of the invaders that can quickly ruin your favorite things. We’ll show you how to keep everything you own safe this season and for many more to come.

Top-Drawer Storage Techniques
Keep it clean. Before you store off-season clothing, give it a good cleaning. “Materials you leave behind on soiled clothes—food particles, body oils, perspiration—are nutritional sources for beetles and moth larvae. Don’t tempt them,” says Don Williams, senior conservator at The Smithsonian Institution and author of Saving Stuff. This is especially true for wool and silk, which are serious bug-magnets.
• Don’t assume an item is clean just because you don’t see stains. Invisible residue such as perspiration and alcohol may not be apparent on clothing until the damage is done.
• To clean, follow care labels on fabrics. Use fragrance-free and non-bleach detergents; bleach can weaken fibers and yellow fabric over time.
Be good to your basics. Everyday items you're storing for regular use benefit from some TLC, too.
• Suit jackets, coats and delicate blouses maintain their shape best if you hang them on padded or wooden hangers. Plastic tubular hangers are sufficient (and less costly!) for lighter-weight clothing.
• Never use plastic covers on your clothes; they trap moisture and invite mildew. Use fabric garment bags to prevent dust. You can even use old pillowcases: Cut small holes in them to thread hangers through.
• T-shirts, tank tops, shorts and sweaters are happiest in drawers. For smooth results, roll them up like burritos and store them side-by-side in a single layer. Use tissue or drawer liner to prevent fabric snags.
Fabrics hate wrinkles, too. Creases don’t just show age—they can permanently damage clothing and quilts. Clothes should be pressed or steamed but not creased—unless you’re OK with those creases becoming permanent. Center creases may be fine in men’s trousers, but not in your skirts or tablecloths.
• To store cashmere sweaters and other pricey items, support all folds and slightly stuffing clothing sleeves with acid-free tissue paper to minimize wrinkles, says Jonathan Scheer of J.C. Scheer & Co., a wedding gown and textile preservation specialist in New York.
• How about those storage bags that use vacuum action to compress clothes? Avoid them at all costs, advises Scheer. “Even if you store things that way for just a short time, you may never get the wrinkles out,” he says. “For long-term storage, it’s a disaster.”

Full article text available upon request.

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