By Zach Pozniak, VP of Operations at Jeeves of Belgravia New York and fourth-generation dry cleaner · @jeeves_ny
Quick answer: To store winter clothes properly, clean them first, dry them completely, fold them, and place them in breathable fabric bags. Dirty or hung-up knits are more likely to get moth holes and lose their shape.
The safest way to store winter clothes is to put them away clean, dry, and folded, then protect them in a breathable fabric bag. Moths are drawn to sweat, body oil, food, and other invisible stains, so clean storage is your best defense.
If you store sweaters, cashmere, wool, silk, or other animal fibers while they are dirty, you are basically inviting moth larvae to feed on them all season long.
Start by washing or dry cleaning everything before it goes into storage. Even if a sweater looks clean, necklines, cuffs, and underarms often hold oils and residue that moths love.
Fold sweaters neatly and place them in a breathable fabric garment bag or another breathable storage container. Breathable storage helps protect animal fibers while still allowing air circulation.
Most sweaters and knits should not be hung for long-term storage. The weight of the garment can stretch the fabric, and cheap hangers can leave shoulder bumps or even wear holes into delicate material.
If you must hang something, only do it when the fabric is structured enough to support its own weight. For soft knits, folding is the safer choice.
Natural repellents can help as an extra layer of protection, but they are not a substitute for clean clothing and breathable storage. The most important step is still removing the food source, which means washing or dry cleaning before storage.
If you have had moth damage before, be extra careful with storage bins, closets, and seasonal items that may already contain larvae or eggs.
That simple routine does most of the work. Clean garments are far less attractive to moths, and folded storage helps protect the shape of your clothes.
If a sweater is labeled dry clean only, if it is made from wool, cashmere, silk, rayon, viscose, or angora, or if you already see moth damage, professional cleaning is the safest move. We can help remove soil before storage and reduce the chance of further damage.
Or ask about any laundry or garment care question
Zach Pozniak is VP of Operations and co-owner of Jeeves of Belgravia New York, the Madison Avenue dry cleaner serving New York since 1979, and the fourth generation of his family in the trade. Zach posts garment care techniques as @jeeves_ny on TikTok to over 900,000 followers, and his book The Laundry Book, co-written with his father Jerry Pozniak, was featured on Good Morning America in October 2024. Jeeves NY's clients include the Metropolitan Opera, the Met Museum, and FIT, and the business has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and New York Magazine.