How to store wool jumpers
To store wool jumpers so they come out of the wardrobe in the same condition they went in, clean them first, fold them, choose a container that suits the space, and keep an eye out for moths and damp.
Clean them before they go away
Wool is an animal fibre made of keratin, a protein, as Canadian Conservation Institute notes. University of Kentucky Entomology explains that clothes moth larvae feed exclusively on animal fibres like wool because they can digest keratin. Soiled woollens are the primary food of clothes moth larvae, and the larvae cannot complete development on clean wool because they need vitamins present only in soiled fabric, according to University of Maryland Extension. Insects are less likely to feed on clean fabrics than on heavily soiled ones, the University of California Statewide IPM Program states, and the Canadian Conservation Institute confirms that soiling increases susceptibility to pest attack.
The Woolmark Company advises always cleaning garments before storing. University of Kentucky Entomology recommends dry cleaning or laundering before long storage, because cleaning kills any eggs or larvae and removes perspiration odours. Dry cleaning kills all stages of clothes moths, according to University of Maryland Extension, though it gives no protection against reinfestation. Hand washing with a mild soap for woollens should also kill the insects, the same extension notes. Heat from a clothes dryer is effective as well, University of Kentucky Entomology adds.
Fold, do not hang
The Woolmark Company recommends folding rather than hanging, which helps garments retain their shape while in storage. Canadian Conservation Institute warns that knits stretch out of shape when hung, and the distortion is often irreversible. Instead, store flat textiles with as few folds as possible in boxes or drawers, and pad folds out to prevent tight creases. Sharp creases along fold lines have the potential to become splits, the Institute adds, because the fibres there are under considerable strain.
What to store them in
The Woolmark Company says 100 percent cotton or wool bags are much safer for delicate clothing than vacuum packing because they let the clothes breathe. University of California Statewide IPM Program recommends storing items clean and pest free in an airtight container, because repellent vapours build to the required concentration only in an airtight container. CSIRO points out that packing clothes into plastic tubs or bags may mean checking on them less often, and risks sealing clothes moth larvae in with the clothes.
Canadian Conservation Institute states that damp is the form of incorrect humidity always to be avoided. At 70 percent relative humidity mould takes three months or more to develop, and at 90 percent it develops in a few days. Low temperature becomes a problem only when it causes high humidity and damp, which usually happens in a poorly ventilated space or against a cold exterior wall. Insect attack is much less frequent below 40 percent relative humidity, and for wool that is a particularly important reduction in risk. The Woolmark Company notes that silica gel sachets help prevent moisture from developing mould. Sources do not agree on container type, but both sides agree on two things: the garment goes in clean, and damp is the condition to avoid.
Keeping moths out of stored knitwear
CSIRO explains that the real culprits are the larvae; once larvae turn into adult moths they never eat again. University of Kentucky Entomology adds that clothes moth adults do not feed and cause no injury to fabrics, but they lay about 40 to 50 pinhead-sized eggs on vulnerable materials, which hatch into the fabric-eating larvae. The most well known clothes moth species in Australia are the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, and the case-making clothes moth, Tinea pellionella, according to CSIRO. These moths are seldom seen because they avoid light, and they prefer dark undisturbed areas, University of Kentucky Entomology notes. University of California Statewide IPM Program says clothes moths are weak flyers that are not attracted to light, so they are usually found close to the infested items, in a dark area of the wardrobe. CSIRO adds that clothes moths enjoy dark enclosed spaces, and clothes not worn for a season are exactly the undisturbed feeding site they want. When inspecting clothing, pay attention to seams, folds and creases such as cuffs and collars, where larvae often prefer to feed, University of Kentucky Entomology advises.
The Woolmark Company recommends cedar blocks as a natural alternative that smells good and works just as well as mothballs, if not better, at preventing damage from moths and silverfish. University of Kentucky Entomology states that, contrary to popular belief, cedar closets and chests are seldom effective in deterring clothes moths, because the seal is insufficient to maintain lethal or repellent concentrations of the volatile oil. Oregon State University Extension Service puts it more bluntly: cedar chips or balls smell wonderful and do nothing to repel clothes moths. University of California Statewide IPM Program explains that aromatic eastern red cedar contains an oil that can kill small larvae but does not affect large larvae, and cedar loses that quality after several years. Herbal oils can be placed in a storage container, but little is known about their effectiveness, the same program notes.
CSIRO says mothballs are used to deter moths, but they will not help with an infestation that already exists, and a fairly high concentration may be needed to be effective.
Checking on them while they are stored
The Woolmark Company suggests checking on stored garments every now and then to make sure no moisture has appeared and no insects have crept inside. CSIRO considers regularly checking clothing and bringing packed-away clothes out for washing and airing every now and then one of the best methods for keeping on top of clothes moths. University of California Statewide IPM Program advises periodically hanging stored woollens in the sun and brushing them thoroughly, especially along seams and inside folds and pockets, because brushing destroys eggs and exposes larvae. For stored clothing not kept in airtight containers, Oregon State University Extension Service recommends placing it in the dryer or in the sun once or twice a month to destroy larvae, and shaking or brushing it before putting it back.
Canadian Conservation Institute lists signs of insect activity: the larvae themselves, insect webs and casings often containing faecal pellets that may be the same colour as the textile, shed larval skins, eggs and frass. University of Maryland Extension warns that clothes and blankets no longer in use and stored for long periods may harbour infestations of clothes moths, and should be periodically inspected and protected or removed. To kill clothes moths, infested items need to be held at a minimum of 0 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one week, and freezers reaching minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit kill them in 72 hours, according to University of Kentucky Entomology. Canadian Conservation Institute gives an exposure of minus 30 degrees Celsius for a week, or minus 20 degrees Celsius for two weeks, as sufficient. Those figures come from entomology and conservation guidance for infested items. None of the entomology or conservation sources says what an ordinary household freezer achieves. When signs of moths appear and a jumper needs washing before storage, the steps are covered in our guide on how to wash a wool jumper.
What we tell customers in the shop
We run two Melbourne shops, one at 520 Bourke Street in the CBD and another on Glen Eira Road in Ripponlea. Our staff give care advice in both, and the questions customers ask most often about knitwear are whether it is itchy, how warm it is, and how to wash and care for it. One of the shop's four fabric hub pages, Wool Knitwear holds the shop's wool garments other than the ones that sit in the merino, cashmere, and merino and cashmere hubs.
Common questions
Should wool jumpers be hung or folded for storage?
Wool jumpers should be folded for storage. The Woolmark Company recommends folding to preserve shape, and the Canadian Conservation Institute states knits stretch irreversibly when hung, with sharp creases that can become splits. Hanging a jumper risks permanent distortion.
How do you keep moths out of stored wool jumpers?
Clean wool jumpers before storing, because clothes moth larvae feed on keratin and University of Maryland Extension says they cannot complete development on clean wool. The Woolmark Company recommends checking every now and then for moisture and insects. Oregon State University Extension Service suggests putting clothing not in airtight containers in the dryer or sun once or twice a month.
What is the best container for storing wool jumpers?
Container advice is contested. The Woolmark Company recommends breathable cotton or wool bags. University of California Statewide IPM Program recommends an airtight container. CSIRO warns a sealed tub means checking less often and risks sealing larvae in. No single best container is agreed upon.
Do cedar balls keep moths away from wool?
Cedar effectiveness is disputed. The Woolmark Company recommends cedar blocks. University of Kentucky Entomology says cedar closets and chests are seldom effective because the seal is insufficient. Oregon State University Extension Service says cedar chips and balls do nothing to repel clothes moths. University of California Statewide IPM Program says cedar oil kills small larvae but not large ones and loses that quality after several years.
How often should stored wool jumpers be checked?
The Woolmark Company says check every now and then for moisture and insects. Oregon State University Extension Service recommends putting clothing not in airtight containers in the dryer or sun once or twice a month. University of California Statewide IPM Program advises brushing along seams, folds and pockets regularly. There is no single schedule.