Time to Start Prepping Your Winter Knits & Key Pieces for their Annual Hibernation
With Spring in the air, it’s time to start thinking about how to store your winter warmers so they’ll serve you just as stylishly again next year! Here are some Top Tips for laying away your layers:
Keeping Your Footwear Fine Boots ain’t cheap, so you’ll want to store yours in tip-top condition. Use a small brush to clean the creviches between the sole and the shoe, removing all the dirt you can find, followed by a thorough cleaning with a specialist leather product. (If they really took a beating during the cold months, take them to the shoe-repair place for some TLC before storing.) To keep them safe from any dampness & to absorb odor, place moisture-absorgent bags inside each boot, and then stuff with newspaper to help them hold their shape. Finally, place them in a box with a lid – the original is best, if you kept it. (And if it’s still a tad nippy out once you’ve stored your boots, “weather’ize” your look with layers – there’s no better wardrobe investment than a classic trench – by adding some opaque tights to keep your tootsies toasty, like we did with this cute ensemble from Laura Ashley.)
Knitwear Know-How In exchange for a season’s worth of warmth, comfort & chic, coats, cardigans and sweaters deserve some love in the off-months. Make space for them in the cupboard (clean out any lurking creepy crawlies and dust), make sure there are no signs of any dampness; because the air is filled with moisture, place some moisture-absorbing bags at the base of the storage area. After you’ve worn an item, hand-launder or dry-clean it (follow the care instructions on the label) before you store it; even near-invisible marks can become impossible-to-remove stains once they’ve had a few months to set into the fabric – not to mention the fact that food or drink stains are also insect-magnets. Cleaning of coats should always be handled by a professional.
And be sure NOT to… hang your knits, as they’ll lose their shape and develop unsightly hanger-marks in the shoulders. Instead, wrap them in acid-free tissue paper, and place in a clean & dry storage box (but not wrapped in plastic, which promotes mildew). Moth balls are also best avoided, not only because of the nasty stench, but the fact they’re toxic. Instead, try moth-repelling cedar blocks or herbal sachets which are nice to both your nose and the environment. Store everything under the bed, on top of your wardrobe, or anywhere else that’s well-ventilated and safe from excessive heat or damp.
Follow these tips and you’ll have your favorite layers to snuggle into again when that first chill of autumn arrives.
Excerpt from:
Time to Start Prepping Your Winter Knits & Key Pieces for their Annual Hibernation