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Protecting Cashmere Sweaters

tony19

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Does anyone know the best way to protect and store cashmere sweaters without using god awful moth balls? just picked up two from JCrew and want them to last. What about specifically the months we are in now where I will be wearing them more frequently. Do you just fold and put them in a drawer or closet?
 

DrZRM

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I was going to say cedar balls/chips, but I just googled it, and apparently they don't do anything. Now I'm freaked out (all my sweaters are in cedar drawers). Does anything work?
 

academe

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I brush my cashmere and woolens with a Kent cashmere brush and usually store them with cedar blocks or with these herbal moth repellants. Given the lovely warm weather here in Scotland, I pretty much wear them all year round ... Usually just putting them away in a drawer will suffice.
 

FIHTies

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Generally if you frequently rotate them (i.e. the winter months when you wear them) then you run less risk of Moth damage.

The main concern should be in the Summer months at which point you should make sure they are clean and you can probably store them in plastic bags and you should be OK.
 

SirSuturesALot

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Originally Posted by FIHTies
Generally if you frequently rotate them (i.e. the winter months when you wear them) then you run less risk of Moth damage.

The main concern should be in the Summer months at which point you should make sure they are clean and you can probably store them in plastic bags and you should be OK.


Does exposure to cold air clean cashmere of moths, etc?
 

thinman

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Originally Posted by FIHTies
Generally if you frequently rotate them (i.e. the winter months when you wear them) then you run less risk of Moth damage.

The main concern should be in the Summer months at which point you should make sure they are clean and you can probably store them in plastic bags and you should be OK.


I store my sweaters in canvas bags during the Summer, because the canvas will breathe. They're available at places like Bed Bath & Beyond or The Container Store.
 

tony19

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Originally Posted by thinman
I store my sweaters in canvas bags during the Summer, because the canvas will breathe. They're available at places like Bed Bath & Beyond or The Container Store.

Perfect. I will check out the container store.

Thanks!
 

FIHTies

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Originally Posted by SirSuturesALot
Does exposure to cold air clean cashmere of moths, etc?
Could enough should be enough to make it uncomfortable if not fatal to moth and other insect larvae which is one of the reasons (to prevent humidity and excessive drying are others) that furs are stored in cold storage (or should be) But my point is that in the winter you are wearing them so there is less chance that bugs will hunker down and settle there. In the Summer they arent being worn or moved so the insects settle down in the garments and lay eggs there.
 

DocHolliday

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I've read that moth eggs can be killed by freezing, but it takes a hard freeze -- colder temperatures than you'd find in your refrigerator's freezer.

I think FIH has the right suggestion. Keeping the sweaters rotated is key, along with cleaning them before storing. The moths are after the food spots.
 

rkw5000

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My mother used to store her fur coat in our deep freezer in a bag - there was a method to the madness! I thought is was to prevent a burglary
 

ANN53

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I wear cashmere sweaters all winter long so I want to make sure during the summer months they are well protected.
Here's what I do:
1. Always make sure the sweater is clean before storing. Moths love food stains.
2. Before storing in a well sealed storage bag, make sure the sweater is not damp and there is no moisture in the bag.
3. To really keep the moths away, spray a small amount of perfume on a piece of paper and put next to the sweater in the bag.
 

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