7 Great Ideas for Storing Your Winter Coats ...

Before you even begin storing your winter coats, make sure that they have all been thoroughly cleaned. Even if coats look clean, they might have stains that aren’t easily visible. Putting dirty coats into storage can exacerbate imperfections so it’s always important to tackle things before they get out of hand. Prevention is better than cure and all that. Cleaning methods can vary depending on the style and fabric used so follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions where you can.

Choosing the right storage space is important when storing your clothing. You want to keep your coats in a cool, dry area. Avoid dank, dusty, and dark spaces as they are the kind of environments that allow mold and mildew to grow. Also take the time to clean out your storage space to make sure your coats are going into the cleanest environment possible.

Most coats should be stored hanging in order to keep their shape. However, slouchy coats, parkas and puffers can be folded away to save on space. If you do have to fold a structured or tailored coat, try and fold along the seams so you’re not left with conspicuous creases when you pull them out of storage. Also avoid squeezing in too many coats into a small space as you want them to keep their shape.

When it comes to choosing garment bags and storage boxes for your coats, stick to natural fibres. Cloth garment bags are a great option for coats as they are breathable and still provide a moisture barrier. If you’re folding your coats, try wrapping them in cotton sheets or pillow cases. Avoid plastic garment bags if you can as they can trap moisture which can lead to mould and mildew.

Coats can be quite heavy so it is wise to invest in some sturdy hangers. Using sturdy hangers, like wooden varieties, will help your coats keep their shape while hanging. Avoid flimsy plastic hangers and definitely do not go near skinny wire hangers.

Packing away all your coats into garment bags and boxes can make it hard to identify individual coats. In the event that you do need to pick out a coat in the dead of summer, you don’t want to have to open every bag before finding the one you’re after. Label each coat as you go along, either with by attaching garment tags or marking boxes with their contents.

Keep insects and moisture at bay by popping in small pouches of lavender or cedar chips into garment racks or storage boxes. Lavender will keep your coats smelling sweet and repel insects and cedar chips have been known to have insect and moisture repelling properties as well.

Take some precautions and carefully store away your winter coats. When you unpack your coats for fall they should be in just as good a shape as you left them. What are your best tips for storing winter coats?