It’s Summer. Pack Your Sweaters Away.
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It’s finally warm enough to put your sweaters away for the season, but what is the best way to do so? All my woolens reside on ablanket ladderin my closet, folded and draped over the rungs so they can be aired out between wears. I usually take the bulkiest ones to the dry cleaners and hand-wash some of the others. This year, I somehow ended up with more sweaters than I know what to do with. So I asked the Strategist staff for their tips on how they take care of their sweaters before storing them.
Lauren Ro, senior writer:Question for the group: What do you do with your sweaters at the end of the season? Washallof them before storing or …?
Ailbhe Malone, senior editor:Itryto wash all my woolens in the summer. I just use whatever wool laundry detergent is in the shops, machine-wash on gentle, and lay ’em on the laundry racks. Not even flat!
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Liza Corsillo, senior writer:Do you spritz with lavender for moth deterrent?
A.M.:No, I just keep them in plastic bins and then darn before putting them away for the summer.
L.R.:I use cedar chips/balls for moth repelling. I have also made my own sachets with cloves.
Winnie Yang, senior editor:I useSoak, and I wash a sweater only if I wore it on a trip or a lot during the season.
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A.M.:Do you always wear a tee under a sweater? Or are you just not a sweaty person (I am)?
W.Y.:I always wear a tee underneath, though I am not very sweaty. I lay flat to dry and use the OXO sweater-drying rack (which I love, have had for nearly ten years, and one of the pair only broke recently). I store with either a lavender sachet or a wax tablet from Santa Maria Novella.
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L.R.:Yes, I always wear something under unless it’s a very thin/light sweater. So if something isn’t “dirty,” you’ll pack it away unwashed?
W.Y.:Yes, and I definitely have some wool sweaters I’ve washed never.
L.R.:I did find tiny moth holes the other day in a very old wool skirt that I haven’t worn inyears. I just throw these on the shelf and in my bins. I’ll also put them between sweaters, on hangers, etc.
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A.M.:Yes, maybe just more prevalent in old London houses where it’s damp? Have never not had clothing moths. I vacuum the storage at the start/end of season, wash everything, and vacuum pack too.
Jen Trolio, senior editor:I killed a moth on the wall of my closet a couple days ago and it shook me to my core. Joke’s on them — the wool is not in there — but still I’m doing some major cleaning at the moment.
Simone Kitchens, senior editor:I dealt with some mothage in my sweaters this winter. I shook them all out over the bathtub so I could see/contain, then put them in a trash bag and into the freezer for a week to kill any … eggs. I do need a summer-storage setup. I use those cedar disc things, too.
L.C.:I use the cedar discs as well.
J.T.:I also use cedar balls and planks. And I prefer fabric bags over plastic bins.
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L.R.:Does vacuum packing prevent moths? Can they not get in there?
A.M.:I think so? The whole thing is that larvae are what make the holes, not the grown “men.” So if you wash and then vac pack, that works.
L.C.:I bought a vintage wool shirt once that ended up infecting all of my clothes. At least I think that’s what did it.
Hilary Reid, senior editor:I’ve had moths before, and when I’ve found moth holes, I have thrown those sweaters out. After that, I pretty much stopped buying vintage sweaters/knits, or if there is areallygood one, I will take it to the dry cleaners before bringing it into my apartment. Otherwise, I dry clean anything I’d be truly upset if it got mothed while being stored for the summer, and the rest I put in plastic bins with cedar blocks and lavender sachets and hope for the best! I have also used this spray, and used to use the Laundress one, which I really loved (and appears to be available again) and seemed to be useful for keeping moths away. Oh, and then anything lightweight that I don’t wear with a T-shirt underneath I’ll hand-wash in cold water and lay flat to dry.
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A.M.:I also own this book by this woman who is a former designer. It’s really, really good.
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W.Y.:One thing I forgot that I often do when I’m washing sweaters is that when I’m done and ready to dry, I roll the sweater up with a towel to get the excess water out first.
A.M.:Yes, same, Winnie, I do that.
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