Packing away winter knits or a wedding dress for years worries you. Here is how to store clothes long term: clean them, keep them dry, dark and breathable, and seal wool away from moths.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Box lining for folded clothes | Acid-free tissue and acid-free boxes |
| Places to avoid | Attic and basement |
| Mothballs | Do not use mothballs |
| Temperature at which moth larvae are inactive | Below 40°F |
| Eggs laid per female clothes moth | 40-50 |
| Most effective moth control | Prevention: clean, sealed storage |
These figures come from the Minnesota Historical Society checklist and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension clothes moth fact sheet. Guidance can change, so check the sources before you rely on the figures.
Good storage is one part of a wider routine, and our guide on how to care for clothes covers the rest.
Clean everything before it goes away
Dirt is the real enemy of stored clothing. University of Maryland Extension explains that soiling supplies nutrients moths need to develop, making cleaning an important preventive step. Its page also says that “Clean, properly stored woolens are not attractive to fabric pests.”
Sweat, food spots and skin oils are invisible on many garments. Wash or dry clean each piece according to its care label, then let it dry completely before packing.
One caution from the same University of Maryland Extension page: dry cleaning kills existing moths at every life stage, but cleaned garments can become infested again. Cleaning is the first step, not the last.
Choose the right container
The Minnesota Historical Society checklist advises using acid-free tissue and acid-free boxes when boxing clothing and textiles. Ordinary cardboard and coloured tissue can release acids that yellow fabric over the years.
A simple packing routine works for most wardrobes:
- Wash or dry clean, and dry the garment fully.
- Fold it with acid-free tissue in the folds so no sharp crease sits in one place for years.
- Lay heavier items at the bottom of the box and lighter ones on top.
- Close the box without cramming it, so fibres are not crushed.
- Label the outside so you do not need to open it to know what is inside.
Cotton, linen and most synthetics are forgiving. Wool, silk, fur and feathers need the most protection, because those are the fibres moths eat. For moth protection, use sealed boxes or airtight garment bags, and pack garments only when completely dry.
Fold, roll or hang?
Most knits should be folded flat, because hanging stretches the shoulders over time. Heavy sweaters, jersey and anything loosely woven belong in a box, not on a hanger.
Sturdy tailored pieces can hang if you use the right hanger. The Minnesota Historical Society checklist recommends padded hangers for sturdy clothing such as uniforms, and a cotton cover to keep dust off. Thin wire hangers concentrate weight on a narrow band and can leave marks.
- Fold: knitwear, bias-cut pieces, delicate fabrics.
- Hang with padding: structured coats and jackets.
- Store flat in a wide box: beaded or heavily embellished garments, and a wedding dress.
Refold stored items now and then so creases do not set in the same line. It also gives you a reason to check them.
How to store clothes long term: where the boxes go
Location decides whether careful packing pays off. A good box in a bad room still fails.
The Minnesota Historical Society checklist suggests storing clothing in moderate temperature and humidity and avoiding the attic and basement. Heat, damp and swings between them are what cause mildew, brittle fibres and odours.
A wardrobe shelf, a bed-base drawer or the top of a closet in a lived-in room is usually better than a garage or shed. Keep boxes off bare floors in case of leaks.
Light matters too. The checklist advises keeping light exposure to a minimum, and a closed box in a dark cupboard does that without extra effort.
Avoid sealed plastic tubs with damp clothing inside, since trapped moisture can encourage mould. If you use plastic for convenience, make sure everything is bone dry first and check the contents often.
Keeping moths out
Rutgers Cooperative Extension reports that each female clothes moth lays 40-50 eggs, so a small problem grows fast. Rutgers recommends airtight garment bags for valuable items and explains that frequently opened closets cannot retain insect-killing vapours.
The Minnesota Historical Society checklist is blunt about one old habit: do not use mothballs. The University of Maryland Extension advice is to clean woollens and store them in sealed boxes.
For a garment you suspect is already infested, cold can help. Rutgers says larvae are inactive at temperatures below 40°F, but inactive is not dead. Check the extension pages for treatment methods before you try anything on a delicate piece.
- Seal wool, silk and fur items in a clean, closed container.
- Do not store anything soiled, even slightly.
- Look through old stored clothes, because the University of Maryland Extension warns that clothing stored for long periods may harbour infestations.
A simple seasonal routine and check-in
Storage works best as a habit, not a one-off job. Build it into the same weekend each time the weather turns, so nothing gets forgotten at the back of a cupboard.
- Sort what you wore this season and set aside anything that needs mending.
- Clean every item you plan to store, even if it looks fine.
- Pack by fibre type, so wool is never mixed loosely with items you cannot seal.
- Write a short list on the box lid so you can find a coat without unpacking the lot.
Mending before storage matters. A small hole or loose button can get worse over a long rest, and it is much easier to fix when you are not rushing to dress for the first cold day.
Open your boxes at the change of each season. Look for musty smells, small holes, webbing, yellowing or spots. Catching one problem early saves the rest of the box.
Storage is also a good moment to be honest about what you will actually wear again. If a piece is past saving, a tired fabric can still get a second life, as in our guide on how to upcycle old clothes.
When you take knits out of storage, air them and check for loose fibres. Our notes on how to prevent clothes from pilling explain how to keep wool looking fresh after its rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store clothes in vacuum bags?
Show answer
The sources reviewed here do not recommend them. Compressing garments for years can crush fibres and set deep creases, so loosely packed breathable boxes are the safer option for valued pieces.
Are mothballs a good way to protect stored wool?
Show answer
No. The Minnesota Historical Society checklist says to avoid them. Clean garments in sealed containers do the job without the smell.
Is a basement or attic ever fine for storage?
Show answer
The Minnesota Historical Society checklist advises avoiding both, because they swing in temperature and humidity. A bedroom closet or under-bed box is a better choice.
Do I need to wash clothes that look clean?
Show answer
Yes. Stains you cannot see, such as sweat and oils, attract moths and can discolour fabric over time. Clean items are far less appealing to pests.
