How to Store Winter Clothing and Shoes

If winter clothing is stored incorrectly, it can deteriorate, and that's the least of concerns. Fur coats and leather shoes may simply not make it to the next season without proper care. Washing, dry cleaning, and thorough packing can help avoid problems. Let's find out how to properly prepare seasonal clothing and footwear for storage.

Outerwear

If jackets can still be washed at home, coats, fur coats, and fur garments should be sent to a dry cleaner. All outerwear except fur coats should be treated with a water-repellent agent. Don't forget protection against moths and other insect pests: special treatments, a piece of lavender soap, newspaper, or orange peels should be placed in pockets or at the bottom of the cover.

Sweaters

Wash sweaters and other knitted items, even if you haven't worn them once during the season. The smell they absorb in the closet can attract insects. bulky items should be packed in vacuum bags — this way, they will take up 2–3 times less space. However, expensive sweaters made from delicate, high-maintenance wool should be stored without vacuum packaging — stack them and line with parchment paper.

Everyday Clothing

The KonMari method of folding clothes is ideal for long-term storage. To do this, unfold the clothing stack vertically — this way, clothes will wrinkle much less because the outerwear in the pile won't press down on the inner layers.

Footwear

Wash and clean footwear. Leather boots should be treated with a thin layer of wax, while suede shoes should be cleaned with a rubber brush and held over steam. Place silica gel packets inside to absorb excess moisture. Pack footwear in fabric bags and store vertically.

Sorting and Labels

Sort winter clothing into containers and bags. For example, pack each family member's clothes separately, divide them by purpose or the place they occupied in the closet. Label the packaging — this will save time in autumn when everything needs to be arranged on shelves again.