How to store clothes
Damp, light, compression and soiling damage stored clothes. When to hang and when to fold, what each material needs and the rotation that takes an afternoon.
In this guide
Clothes are stored clean, dry, out of direct light and with room around them. Knitwear is folded, coats and jackets with a built shoulder hang on broad hangers, and down and wax jackets are never compressed.
A garment that is put away for a season can be damaged by damp, light, compression and soiling. This guide covers what causes that damage and what each material needs.
What damages stored clothing
| Cause | What it does | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Damp | Mould on natural fibres, a mildew smell and corrosion on zips and studs | A dry room with moving air. No cellars and no sealed plastic covers. |
| Light | Fades dyes unevenly, and the fade is permanent | Away from windows. A closed cupboard is enough. |
| Compression | Sets creases in wax and cotton and flattens down for good | Room around each item and no vacuum packing. |
| Soiling | Body oils can oxidise into stains that were not visible when the garment was put away, and soiling attracts moths | Everything is stored clean. This is the most important rule. |
Many storage problems start as a mark that could not be seen when the garment went into the cupboard.
Leverene
Hanging or folding
The choice depends on the weight and structure of the garment.
Hang anything with a built shoulder that holds its own shape: coats, tailored jackets, shirts and trench coats. A broad wooden or padded hanger that matches the width of the shoulder is best. Wire hangers concentrate the whole weight of a coat on two points, and the marks eventually show.
Fold anything knitted. A jumper on a hanger stretches at the shoulder under its own weight, and after a season the shoulder line has changed. Folded knitwear is stacked no more than a few items deep.
Trousers and jeans can be hung or folded. Hanging over a bar by the waistband is best, folding is fine and clipping at the hem is worst, because the clips mark the fabric.
Storage by material
Wool and knitwear
Wool is stored folded, clean and in a breathable bag or a closed box. Moth larvae eat protein fibres and are drawn to soiling rather than to the wool itself, so the end of the season is the moment to wash, not the start of the next one. Washing wool without shrinking it is explained in how to wash and care for wool knitwear.
Down
Down insulates because it traps air, and it traps air because it lofts. Stored compressed for months, the clusters break down and the loft does not fully return. A down jacket is therefore kept on a hanger with space around it, or loose in a large breathable bag. It is not compressed, not vacuum packed and not placed at the bottom of a stack.
A jacket that comes out of storage flat can be tumble dried on a cool setting with a couple of clean tennis balls to break up the clumps.
Waxed cotton
A wax jacket is stored on a broad hanger in a dry room and never inside a plastic cover. Plastic traps moisture against the wax and is a common reason for a stored wax jacket to come out mouldy. It is not folded for a season either, because the wax sets into the crease and the crease stays.
Technical shells
A shell is stored hanging, loose, dry and unzipped. Membranes can be damaged by being folded along the same line for years, and a shell put away damp can delaminate at the seams. The terms are explained in Gore-Tex, down and DWR.
Cotton and denim
Cotton and denim are forgiving in storage. They are kept clean, folded or hung and out of direct light. The main risk is fading along a fold line that sits in the sun.
Seasonal rotation
The rotation is done twice a year and takes an afternoon.
- Empty the pockets. Coins and receipts left in a pocket for a season can leave marks that do not come out.
- Clean everything before it goes away, in the way that suits the material.
- Repair small damage before storing. A small hole in wool can become a large one over a winter in a drawer, and a loose button can be lost by spring.
- Check each item before it is put away. This is also the moment to see which items are no longer worn.
- Air everything for a day when it comes back out. A storage smell disperses on its own.
What happens before an item is added to the store
Each item is inspected, authenticated, cleaned and measured before it is added to the store. Each step is described in How leverene works. Each item is cleaned in a way that suits the material.
Frequently asked questions
Should clothes be stored in plastic bags?
Breathable cotton bags or closed boxes are better. Plastic traps moisture, which can cause mould, particularly on wax jackets.
Is it better to fold or hang jumpers?
Jumpers are folded. On a hanger, knitwear stretches at the shoulder under its own weight.
How should winter clothes be stored over summer?
Clean, dry and out of direct light, with wool folded in a breathable bag and down jackets hanging loose.
Related reading
What to look at before an item is bought is in how to buy pre-owned clothing online.
Related collections
The current range is in jumpers and knitwear, jackets and vests, coats and outdoor clothing, for men and women.
