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Storing Your Summer Wardrobe

Submitted by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

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It is the time of year to store summer clothes and bring out the fall and winter items. It is important to store clothing correctly in order to avoid insect problems during storage.

Some steps to considered when prepared clothes for storage are:

* Clean the closet or container to be used for storage.

* Clean and vacuum the closet. Attachments help get into crevices and pick up dust, hair, lint, dirt, etc. Insect feed on these as well as mold and fungi.

* Wash the container (plastic tubs) with a disinfectant cleaner. Always read the directions of any product before purchasing and using.

* All clothes should be laundered or cleaned. Small amounts of food or soil on a garment can attract insects. Items appearing to be clean may have hidden soils or stains. So it is important to clean them before storing.

* Make any repairs on clothing items.

* Do not use bleach, fabric softener, starch, or sizing on clothing to be stored.

* Store clean garments with mothballs and/or in a cedar chest. Chests and closets made of cedar repel insects but cedar loses its repellence over time. Cedar chests are not air tight, so it is possible fabric can still be damaged in a cedar chest.

Woolen sweaters and garments stored in mothballs during the summer will have an odor when they are taken out of storage. It will take time for the odor to come out of fabric. Wool tends to absorb odors, so the mothball smell lingers longer in woolen garments.

To eliminate the odor, take the garments out of storage as early as possible and give them time to air out. Hang or lay them in open spaces so fresh air will circulate around them. Let garment air for several days. Avoid placing them in the sun. Mothballs are a pesticide and need fresh air and time to break down.

Store clothing in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from artificial or natural light. When storing clothes in tubs or boxes line the container with an old sheet or muslin to keep the items from touching the container. This will help avoid stains. Store in an even temperature area. Avoid attics, damp basements and garages.

The time you take to store clothing will save you time and money when you take the items out for the next season.