Storing Winter Clothes So You Don't Cry in Spring
Over the winter, a fur coat, puffer jacket, or coat inevitably gets stains, creases, and odors. If you just hang it in the closet until next season, by autumn you risk faded fur, frayed seams, and a persistent musty smell. I, Sergey Kim, a leather and fur master at Azhur Atelier, will tell you how to properly prepare winter clothes for storage so there are no tears in spring.
Why improper storage ruins clothes
The main enemies of winter clothes are moisture, dust, moths, and temperature fluctuations. Even a clean item, if folded in a plastic bag and shoved into a mezzanine, can become moldy or a meal for moth larvae in six months. At our Azhur Atelier, every April we receive dozens of puffer jackets with yellow stains from unwashed sweat and shearling coats that have 'crumbled' due to improper drying. To avoid this, just follow three rules: cleanliness, dryness, and air access.
Cleaning before storage: what you can and cannot do
Puffer jackets and coats with synthetic filling
A puffer jacket should be washed or dry-cleaned before storage. Home washing is allowed if the label doesn't prohibit it. Use liquid detergent for down, a 'delicate wash' cycle at 30 °C, and turn off the spin cycle. After washing, rinse thoroughly (at least twice) to avoid powder residue, which destroys down structure. Dry the puffer jacket horizontally on a rack, periodically fluffing the filling. Drying time is 2–3 days. If dried on a radiator, the down will clump and the jacket will lose volume.
Fur coats (mink, arctic fox, fox)
Fur cannot be washed—only dry-cleaned. At Azhur, cleaning a fur item costs from 8,000 ₸. At home, you can gently go over the fur with a damp sponge and fur shampoo, but only if the stain is fresh and local. After cleaning, be sure to brush the fur with a wide-tooth comb in the direction of the nap and dry at room temperature away from heating appliances. Do not use a hairdryer—it will dry out the skin.
Leather jackets and shearling coats
Leather and suede are cleaned with special products. Grease stains on leather are removed with a soap solution and ammonia (1 tsp per glass of water), but it's better to trust us—wrong chemicals can strip the paint. Suede is cleaned with a dry brush or eraser. After cleaning, be sure to apply a water-repellent impregnation. At our shop, leather treatment costs 3,500 ₸, suede—4,500 ₸.
How to properly pack and where to store
Choosing covers and hangers
No plastic bags! Use breathable covers made of spunbond or cotton. Fur and leather items are best stored in dark covers to prevent color fading. Hangers should be wide and soft to avoid deforming the shoulders. For heavy fur coats, use reinforced hangers with foam padding. At our atelier, you can buy a quality cover for 2,000–3,500 ₸.
Storage conditions
Ideal: a dark, dry closet with a temperature of 15–20 °C and humidity of 50–60%. Do not store winter clothes on the balcony: temperature fluctuations and humidity will ruin the material. If the apartment is damp, put silica gel (packets from shoe boxes) or a special dehumidifier in the cover. For moths, sachets with lavender or cedar balls help—but only if the item is already clean, otherwise moths will breed inside.
Storage features for different materials: table
| Material | Cover type | Hanger | Additional measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puffer jacket | Spunbond, cotton | Soft, wide | Fluff filling, store flat |
| Fur coat (mink, arctic fox) | Dark, breathable | Reinforced, with foam padding | Moth repellent, do not hang close to other items |
| Leather jacket | Cotton, dark | Soft, wide | Impregnated, do not fold |
| Shearling coat | Spunbond | Wide, with rounded edges | Suede cleaning, impregnation |
What to remember
Preparing winter clothes for storage takes no more than an hour, but extends the life of items for years. The main thing is not to be lazy and do everything in order.
- Cleaning: down jacket — washing or dry cleaning, fur and leather — only dry cleaning or special products.
- Drying: natural, away from radiators and sun, 2–3 days.
- Packaging: breathable cover, wide hanger, no plastic.
- Moth protection: clean item + lavender or cedar.
- Location: dark closet, stable temperature and humidity.
Related service: Fur Coat Repair