Long-Term Storage Strategies

Out-of-season clothing and linens require special attention when you put them away.

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Haphazard storage of clothes and linens -- whether you're stowing a raincoat or napkins -- can lead to disastrous damage from mildew and insects. Because stored goods may sit unattended for months, you might not notice the damage until the pieces are unsalvageable. However, if you follow the basic rules for fabric storage, your clothes and linens will last for years.

• Make sure clothing and linens are clean when you put them away, and store them in a clean container or storage area. Perspiration, food, or dirt on stored clothes attracts insects.



• Store clothing away from light, which can promote the hatching of insect eggs.



• Avoid unventilated areas where temperatures and humidity are uncontrolled for storing off-season clothes; a damp basement, for example, promotes mildew growth.



• Don't use plastic bags or other airtight containers, which tend to trap mold-feeding moisture.



• Pack loosely so that air can circulate around folded items in the storage area.



• Forgo starch, fabric finish, or sizing (which keeps fabric crisp) on any clothes or linens before storing; the stiffeners can damage fabric over time.



• Use a chemical desiccant (to absorb moisture), such as silica gel or calcium chloride packets, but don't let it touch the fabrics or it may damage them.



• Ventilate storage areas when the weather is dry and cool.

From Householder's Survival Manual

 

• Storing Seasonal Clothing
• Discover how to store and protect seasonal clothes.
• 
• Storing Delicate Clothing
• Keep your delicate clothing in great condition with these tips.
• 
• More Closet Space for Less
• Affordable ways to maximize your closet space.
• 
• Protect Your Clothing from Moths
• Manage a moth infestation with these great ideas.
• 
• Storing Holiday Decorations
• Learn how to safely store and organize your holiday decorations.
• 

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Thanks to my daughter, I have become thoroughly sensitized to environmental issues. Recently I purchased a greeting card, and when the cashier started to place it in a plastic bag, I remembered my daughter's repeated warnings and immediately declined its use.

"I'll be mailing that quickly," I told the clerk. "You can take the bag back."

"Okay. Have a good day," she said with a smile. Then I watched as she scrunched the bag into a ball and tossed it into the garbage.

 

 

-- Arlene Kusher