How to Store Winter Coats

As the frost melts and the first blooms of spring appear, it's time to pack away your winter clothes. Big, bulky winter coats can have a much-deserved rest after a long cold winter and emerge as good as new in the fall if you pack and store them correctly. Incorporate storing your winter coats into your spring cleaning regimen and reap the benefits when the first snow arrives.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hangers
• Cloth garment bags
• Cedar sachets

Clean out Your Coat Closet

1. Try on your winter coats one last time before you store them for the summer. You can donate your outgrown coats to charity and save a little space in your closet for the rest of your wardrobe.

2. Use your mending kit to reinforce any loose buttons on your winter coats before you store them. This will ensure that your coats are ready to wear once the snow starts falling.

3. Check your coat pockets for loose change, mittens and gloves and store them separately. While gloves and mittens might come in handy in your pockets during the winter season, they can stretch your pockets out during your coat's summer hiatus.

4. Take your coats to the dry cleaners for one final cleaning of the season. Leftover stains can cause permanent damage to your winter coat if left untreated.

5. Remove the dry cleaner's plastic bag and hangers from your clean winter coats and allow them to air out for a couple of days before storing them.

Set up Your Winter Coat Storage

6. Hang sachets of cedar in your coat closet to deter moths and other insects from making a meal of your woolen winter gear.

7. Purchase sturdy hangers for your winter coat storage. If moth infestations are a problem, you can also purchase hangers made from cedar, a wood that acts as an insect repellent.

8. Buy enough cloth garment bags to store all of your winter coats. These bags will protect your coats from dust accumulation during the summer.

9. Save space in your closet by using durable plastic zipper bags to store your nylon or other synthetic material ski coats. You should be able to squeeze some of the air out of the bags and the batting of the coats to make them more compact for their summer storage.

Tips & Warnings

• Freshen up your winter wool coats after storage by letting them hang in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes. The steam helps relax any wrinkles that may have formed during storage and a quick brushing with a soft cloth will freshen up their overall appearance.