You Can Protect Your Prized Sweaters By Using Old Pillowcases As Seasonal Storage Containers, Saving You Money And Frustration Over Damaged Knits
If you don’t happen to live where the weather sticks to one script all year, you’re probably familiar with the drill of switching out clothes as the seasons change.
But, when it comes to packing away your knits, it’s a bit of a tricky task because a slight misstep and your beloved sweater could end up in tatters.
And let’s be honest, a good sweater is practically a wardrobe staple that never goes out of style, so it stings a bit more when you pull one out only to find it’s been wrecked by moths, mold, or mishandling.
The good news? You likely have everything you need to protect your pullovers right at home, saving you the hassle and expense of special storage containers or, even more painful, having to replace a classic knit.
However, before we dive into how you can safeguard your sweaters from the many dangers lurking in the back of your closet, let’s break down why they’re so at risk.
Sweaters face quite an array of domestic dangers that can wreak havoc on their knit integrity.
Top of the terror list are moths, infamous for their taste for wool and cashmere, thanks to the keratin found in these animal fibers. These critters can riddle a perfectly good sweater with holes that are beyond repair.
Then, there’s the issue of moisture. Too much of it leads to mold and mildew, which are essentially a death sentence for any fabric.
But if you’re looking to keep your sweaters safe from one season to the next, there’s a simple solution hiding in your linen closet – pillowcases.
Photo 201708419 © Citalliance – Dreamstime.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
How To Use Pillowcases For Sweater Storage
If your linen closet is cluttered with a collection of old pillowcases, they’re about to become more than just space hoggers. In fact, you can transform them into sweater guardians during the off-season.
Now, you might be tempted to go the plastic bag route for storage, but that’s a no-go. Plastic actually traps moisture, suffocating fabrics and leaving your sweaters musty— or worse, moldy— when it’s time to wear them again.
Leaving your knits out in the open isn’t advised, either, since moths will probably become an unwelcome reality.
Instead, you can simply ditch the plastic and just tuck each sweater into its own pillowcase for safekeeping. Just make sure to launder or dry-clean them before they go into hibernation.
Once they’re fresh and clean, fold them neatly to avoid creases. Then, slide each folded sweater into a separate pillowcase and consider adding a sachet, some cedar chips, or a dryer sheet to each one for a touch of freshness that’ll last till the seasons turn.
Just be sure to steer clear of mothballs to dodge that overpowering scent they’re notorious for.
Finally, if you can, stash your pillowcased knits in a dresser drawer or sealed container for an extra layer of defense.
This simple sweater storage method can give your old pillowcases a new life, saving you money on both other costly storage methods and the tragedy of having to replace a beloved garment.
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