Garment care Sustainability

Here are some tips on how to safely store your woollens!

by JAM Team May 08, 2017

There was a program on the radio today talking about moth infestations becoming an increasing problem over the last 5 years.

If you are a knitwear connoisseur and have invested into some gorgeous woollen and possibly even cashmere garments – be that for your child or yourself you will probably want to keep them gorgeous and hole free. It is a good idea to sort through your winter wardrobe and check that your jumpers and cardigans are in the best shape to survive the warmer months without being eaten up by moths.

First and foremost – make sure your jumpers, cardigans and scarves are stored clean. This is especially important in storage as moth larvae live in dark places and love to feast particularly on smelly, food stained clothes. You can find some tips on how to best wash your woollens and cashmere knitwear in a blog we wrote last year: "Tips on how to wash your woollens" It might seem like hard work, but think of it as an investment into sustainability and imagine how nice it will be to unpack your fresh, clean, hole free jumpers when the weather turns colder again.
Make sure all the garments you are storing away are completely dry and not even a little bit humid after the wash. Lay them out to dry flat in the sun if necessary.
Think of a container or something that will act as an additional barrier to protect your jumpers and cardigans from moths. A good old trick I remember my grandmother using was to wrap woollens in some newspaper sheets. While covering them, it also allows the air to circulate. Or you could use a pillowcase or a canvas bag.
Add some lavender bags or cedar balls to your storage container or chest (sand the cedar balls if they are a little old to refresh them). Moths will be deterred by their fragrance.
If you have found moths or discovered holes in your jumpers – clean your storage cupboards thoroughly and make sure to wash all your jumpers to ensure that the moth eggs and larvae are eliminated. Lavender and cedar may be preventative but they won’t kill the moth larvae!

And finally, if you discover some moth damaged jumpers in the process, don’t throw them away! Especially if they are made of precious cashmere. A lot of these holes can be repaired. If you are not up for it, consider selling them on eBay. There are crafty people out there who will pay for a second hand damaged cashmere jumper to turn it into something useful – think hot water bottle.

And if you are crafty yourself, watch this space. We will make sure to write a blog with some ideas on up-cycling projects for damaged woollens.

Team JAM

p.s. JAM London is a specialist childrenswear brand, focusing on knitted, woollen and natural fabric childrenswear. We promote responsible shopping and see garment care as the crucial part of preventing waste in fashion.