Suits & shirts in humid garage?

[jim8680]

I searched around, but couldn't find much information on this topic...
I am moving to Houston (humid) and have a lot of suits and shirts. I have suit and shirt bags... Should i only put shirts in the garage? Will it affect the longevity of my clothing?

Thanks

 

[Fanfare]

High humidity (>65%) can result in textile degradation through abiotic (mostly acidic hydrolysis) and microbial degradation. But it's difficult to assess the possible extent of damage and whether its effects are actually meaningful: would you even be wanting to wear a given suit after some 5-odd years?

From my experience, anything that's worn and dry cleaned regularly (once a month or thereabouts) ought to be fine in a garage as cleaning will arrest microbial growth. For clothing that's out-of-season or destined for long-term storage, I'd keep it in another part of the house (ideally cool, dark and well ventilated) in order to limit the potential for mould and mildew damage.

 

[jim8680]

I plan to keep my bespoke suits for more than 5 years.

 

[Patrick R]

My suits are barely broken in after 5 years.

 

[Despos]

have seen suits stored in a garage in Dallas. The cloth was never the same. Sort of dried out and limp. The change in the cloth was easily noticeable. Some unknown insect(s) ate a few holes in a few of the jackets. Suggest looking for an alternative.