Most of us will dig out our favourite clothes to wear as the season's change. From comforting warm winter woollies for winter to light and floaty silk vest tops for summer, we tend to rotate our wardrobe without really thinking about it.
However, with a just a little effort you can reorganise your wardrobe to make it easier for you to find and grab your favourite seasonal outfits without putting any extra wear and tear on your out of season clothes or risk causing them any environmental damage that can degrade fibres, fade colours or cause them to age quicker than you would like.
We all know how annoying it can be to search through hangers full of chunky knits trying to seek out that pretty floral top you want to wear once the weather starts to warm up. So why not make it easier to find the clothes you need by saying goodbye to your dark and heavy winter wear during the spring and summer, and say hello to your floaty and cool outfits – and vice versa!
How to Rotate Your Wardrobe in a Healthy Way
You may think that keeping a seasonal wardrobe is as simple as throwing all the clothes you don't want to wear right now into a box and sliding them under your bed until you need them again. However, if you want to keep your clothes looking and feeling as good as new, then there are a few precautions you need to take to make sure you don't put your clothes at risk.
The most important step to take before you store any clothes away is to clean them first. It may seem like a chore to clean your clothes weeks before you will be wearing them again, but by cleaning your out of season clothes you can be saving yourself a lot of time and money.
Protect Your Clothes by Dry Cleaning Them
Putting dry cleaned clothes into storage means that any stains and discolouration they have won't set. If you have any lingering or stubborn stains, dirt and grease smudges on your clothes, they will deteriorate the fabric faster. Sweat and skin oil residues can start to discolour your clothes and cause odours to build up.
You may also be unwittingly opening the door to unwanted bugs to move in. Clothes moths are particularly rampant and damaging. You could be providing them with the perfect breeding ground by trapping them undisturbed, in the dark between layers of very yummy clothes for their larvae to feast on!
Having your clothes professionally dry cleaned with American Dry Cleaning is always a better option than machine washing them. Dry cleaning is a gentle process that helps to prevent yellowing and will help to prolong the life of your clothes.
To Hang or to Fold?
Once you have dry cleaned your seasonal wardrobe, the next thing to do is to decide whether to hang up or fold away your clothes. The fabric that your clothes are made from will be able to dictate this for you.
Clothes made from natural fibres such as wool and cashmere are best carefully folded away in protective covering such as cotton garment bags. Hanging up clothes made from natural fibres can lead to unwanted stretching. Never leave your clothes in plastic garment bags as these can trap moisture and lead to mildew growth.
More robust items of clothing such as heavy jackets and coats are fine to hang up, but never hang up leather jackets or coats as this can lead to permanent creasing. Leather clothes are best folded away.
You can choose to fold away clothes made from acrylic and poly fibres to save space in your wardrobe and if you have anything that is particularly delicate, you can layer acid-free tissue paper between each piece to avoid wrinkling. Store in cotton bags as this will allow your clothes to breathe
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