Simple Tips for Storing Dry Cleaned Clothing

Most of the time, you leave your dry-cleaned clothes in the closet so the garments will be ready to wear. However, sometimes, the clothes have to go into storage. For instance, you might store your seasonal clothes to make room for other garments. Also, wedding dresses and other items might go directly into storage when you get them back from the dry-cleaning company. Find out how to keep your dry clean only clothes in tip-top shape when in storage.

Begin by Choosing One of the “Best Organic Dry Cleaners Near Me”

Before you store your clothes, you need to get them cleaned. Otherwise, stains and smells can set into the fabric. Plus, dirty clothes can attract pests, which can ruin your garments.
Instead of dropping the clothes off yourself, use one of the “environmentally friendly dry cleaners near me” that offers pickup and delivery. That way, the company can handle the entire task while you create a plan for storing your garments. This is so much easier than fighting traffic to drop off and pick up your clothes.

Find a Dark, Climate-controlled Spot

Harsh temperatures and UV rays can damage dry clean only clothing. Thus, choose a storage space that’s dark and temperature controlled. A closet or under the bed are both good options. If you don’t have much space, you might use several areas to store your clothes. For instance, you might place some suits under your bed and then shirts and pants in an extra closet in a guestroom or hallway.

Store Folded Clothing in Plastic Containers

You need to fold sweaters and other garments that stretch easily. Otherwise, they won’t retain their shape while in storage.

Start by getting acid-free tissue paper and a plastic container. Then place the heaviest garment at the bottom of the container. Cover the garment with acid-free tissue paper and put the second-heaviest item on top of it. Continue doing this until the container is almost full but leave a couple of inches of space. That way, your clothes will have room to breathe when in storage.

Store Other Garments on Hangers

You can use hangers to store your garments that aren’t prone to stretching. First, you need to get padded or wooden hangers that can support the clothes. Then put the garments and hangers in cotton garment bags. Cotton is breathable, so your clothing will get ample air. At the same time, it offers protection, so you won’t have to worry about damaged garments when you take them out of storage.

Create Labels for Containers and Garment Bags

It’s a good idea to stay organized when storing your clothes. You should know what’s in each garment bag and container so you can find what you need.

You can use paper and safety pins to label garment bags. First, write the name of the garment and then affix it to the bag with a safety pin.

You’ll do things a bit differently when it comes to labeling the plastic containers. In this case, you can use a marker to list the contents of each container. Make sure you write on the side of the container if you’re going to stack them. If you prefer, you can also use a label maker to create a list of garments.

Use Cedar Blocks to Protect Against Pests

Using garment bags and plastic containers will provide some protection from pets. However, you should take an additional step by placing cedar blocks next to the clothing. These blocks are natural pest repellants, and they also emit a nice smell. Your clothes will smell fresh and clean when you are ready to wear them next season.

Storing Wedding Gowns

Do you want to keep your wedding gown so you can relive the memories or pass it down to a member of your family? If so, storing it in a garment bag or plastic container won’t do. Instead, you need to take it to a wedding gown dry cleaning and preservation company. The company will clean the gown before placing it in a vacuum-sealed container with acid-free paper. This prevents yellowing and other problems.

What to Avoid When Storing Clothing

You need to make sure that you avoid making some mistakes after getting your garments back from one of the “environmentally friendly dry cleaners near me.” First, do not use cardboard boxes when storing garments. Pests love cardboard, so they might get into the box and destroy your clothing. Plus, cardboard doesn’t offer much protection. For instance, if water spills on the box, it will seep through it. The same isn’t true for plastic.

You also need to avoid using plastic garment bags. Plastic is suffocating, so the garments won’t get enough air. Plus, moisture tends to build up in plastic. Moisture can lead to mold and mildew, which can destroy your clothing. On top of that, the plastic might break down while your garments are in storage. Then it will interact with the fabric, causing colors to fade and other problems.
Also, avoid cramming your clothes together when hanging them. It’s okay for your clothes to touch, but don’t force garments to fit. Items on hangers need to breathe, too, so give the garments some space.

Finally, don’t use mothballs. Your kids or pets could end up eating them, creating a medical emergency. Plus, the smell is overwhelming. You don’t want to walk out of the house smelling like mothballs, so avoid this.

Choosing “Organic Eco-friendly Dry Cleaners Near Me”

Now that you know how to store your clothing, you can take the next step and get your garments dry cleaned. Fortunately, scheduling service at one of the “best organic dry cleaners near me” is a breeze. You can sign up for a dry-cleaning pickup and delivery service online. Then get your garments together for the valet. After the valet drops them back off, you can store them for the season or put them in your closet to wear soon.

Sources:

3 Reasons to Dry Clean Clothing Before Storage

15 Tips for Storing Seasonal Clothes

Clothing Storage Advice