Space, especially closet space, is a premium. Many people simply don’t have the room to keep their entire wardrobe in their closets and dressers year round. Storing your winter wardrobe in bins and garment bags frees up space for your spring and summer apparel and accessories. It provides you the opportunity to wash, fix, recycle, and organize your cold weather clothing.
Cleaning, Repairing and Recycling Your Winter Wardrobe
1.Machine wash or dry clean all of your winter items.
When
stored for long periods of time, dirty clothing attracts pests and can also
produce unwanted odors, mold, or mildew.
Unclean items that contain perfumes,
lotions, oils perspiration can also cause the
fabric to stain and yellow.
Before you pack up your winter wardrobe for
several months, you should properly
launder each article of clothing.
Machine wash all of your non-delicate winter items.
Dry clean any winter items made from natural
materials, like silk, wool, and cashmere. Do not store these items in a plastic
garment bag.
2. Wipe down and polish your shoes.
Winter shoes come into contact with harsh salts and dirt. Prior to
storing these items, thoroughly clean
each pair. Remove built-up salt and grime with a cotton cloth or shoe brush.
Don’t forget to polish and condition your leather boots.
If your winter shoes are badly stained, consider having them
professionally cleaned.
To prolong the life of your winter shoes, clean them
frequently throughout the winter too
3. Send out items for repair.
As you
wash, dry clean, and clean your winter items, set aside any pieces that appear
damaged or broken. This might include coats with missing buttons, clothing with
minor rips or stains, and/or shoes in need of new soles. Bring the items
you are interested in fixing to a reputable seamstress or shoe repair professionals.
If you don't have an interest in fixing the item, find a way to recycle
it.
4. Donate items you will no longer wear.
While you
sort through your clean winter apparel and accessories, set pieces aside to
donate. These items may include garments that no longer fit you and/or items
you didn’t wear at all last season. There are several ways to recycle these items.
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