Nothing is worse than breaking out your sweaters in the fall, only to find that your favorite knit developed a new hole! Such was my story this past winter. I was so excited to wear one of my favorite grey turtlenecks from Uniqlo until I realized a small moth hole developed in the chest area. Lesson learned, and not repeating my mistakes! If you are in the midst of a spring closet clean-out, I put together a guide on how to store your sweaters in the off-season. Here is everything you need to know to make your sweaters last as long as possible across seasons.
Why do moth holes develop?
Moth holes develop when moths lay eggs on fabrics. The larvae feed on the fibers, which leaves holes in our garments. These pests love dark, warm spaces as well as oils, sweat, and food stains! As such, our closets can become a breeding ground if we do not take care of our sweater prior to storage.
Another thing to note is moths only prey on protein fibers such as wool, cashmere, and silk. These fibers contain a protein called keratin, which moths are able to digest! The storage steps I share below are, therefore, most applicable to our precious cashmere and woolen knits.
Fabric Care Gadgets I Love: Nori Handheld Steamer/Iron | Fabric Pill Shaver | Storage Bins | Dirty Labs Delicates Detergent – ‘STYLEDBYSCIENCE‘ for 10% off. This detergent is great for washing wool, and cashmere pieces. You can also read my review of it HERE.
How to Store Your Sweaters in the Spring: Complete Guide
- Hand-wash your sweaters with a delicate detergent. You might be wondering if a normal detergent will do. Short answer is: delicate detergents make a difference! Technically, wool and cashmere are similar to human hair and using harsh detergents will strip them of their softness and quality over time. I highly recommend the Dirty Labs Delicate & Hand-Wash Detergent, which works for woolen fabrics. You can read my brand review HERE.
- Lay flat to dry. After you’ve washed your sweaters (soak in detergent for 30-mins, then wash with gentle agitation), lay them flat to dry so that they do not misshapen. I use a drying rack for this part.
- Fabric Care: The next step you will want to take is de-pill and iron/steam your sweaters. Did you know that steaming is an effective sanitizing technique? The heat is able to kill off germs. Plus, when you break out your sweaters in the fall, they will feel fresh and wrinkle-free. I like to use the Nori Iron/Steam Press (also reviewed HERE), as well as this fabric shaver to get rid of pills.
- Fold your clothes, and store in an impermeable storage bin. I use plastic storage bins here, and don’t recommend fabric ones as moths can eat their way through. I also avoid vacuum-sealed storage bags because I am nervous about flattening my lush cashmere pieces. If left alone for a long time, deep creases may also set in. Bonus Tip: Do NOT overpack the storage bin. You should be able to close the lid without squishing any of your sweaters. Layer them so that the heaviest pieces are at the bottom.
- Add lavender sachets. At this point, your storage bin should be shut off from moth intruders. But I wanted to be extra safe and added lavender sachets. The fragrance is soothing, and it also repels moths! I had a hard time finding them in-stores, so I ended up getting these Lavender Dryer Packets from Trader Joe’s. It serves the same purpose, but I linked some online options as well.
Products You Need to Properly Store Your Sweaters
In case this post was more information than you need, this section shares all the products I used and where you can find them!
- Fabric Care: Nori Steam / Iron, Fabric Shaver (to remove pills)
- Delicates Detergent: Dirty Labs. Use code STYLEDBYSCIENCE for 10% off your purchase.
- Equipment: Basin for washing your sweaters, Drying Rack
- Storage Bins
- Lavender Sachets (You can find some at your local Trader Joe’s, but here are some I found online)
