Cooler Weather, Cozier Clothes

TIME TO PULL THOSE FALL CLOTHES OUT

The cooler weather has arrived and it’s time to bring your fall/winter wardrobe out from storage! Have you ever taken your clothes out of storage and noticed they have a musty smell? Follow these simple steps to ensure all of your cold-weather wear are all clean and ready to go.

1. Check for musty smells:
Did you notice a musty smell on your stored clothes? That musty smell could be mold or mildew, which can happen if any of your clothes were damp when you packed them up. If you did notice a musty smell, one quick solution is to hang the clothes outside in the sunlight and fresh air. If that doesn’t remove the odor, you’ll have to wash them.

2. Look for stains.
Did you get your favorite sweater unpacked only to find a stain? The summer heat could have set stains that weren’t visible to you when stored your clothes last spring. Try soaking whites and light-colored items in a mixture of warm water and oxygen bleach. After soaking the affected clothes overnight, wash them as usual.

3. Check for moth damage.
It can be heartbreaking to unpack your favorite cold-weather clothes only to find a bunch of holes. Moths are attracted to natural fibers. Unfortunately, if you find you have moth damage on one piece of clothing, you need to inspect the other garments it was stored with. To ensure that all of the larvae are taken care of, place the clothes into sealed plastic bags, and put them in the freezer for three days to kill any bugs.