Tips on How To Store Your Expensive Home Textiles
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Sometimes life experiences knock your socks off. And some experiences require the careful handling of expensive, delicate textiles. An item you’ve spent hours, days, or even weeks carefully designing and creating deserves to be treated with the utmost care – especially when it’s not at home with you!
An easy way to prevent such an often costly mistake is by storing your items properly.
Here are a few tips to help you store your expensive home textiles:
Tip #1 – Preventing Moisture Damage
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Moisture damage is a common threat to delicate textiles. Moisture in this case refers to water and high humidity. Even fabric that has been originally manufactured with waterproof characteristics can become damaged after repeated exposure.
Preventing moisture damage is easy and best done before the item leaves your home.
When storing any garment or textile that does not have a protective lining, pack it in airtight containers with a desiccant (a solid, dry material which absorbs moisture). You can use silica gel packets inserted into the pack at intervals, or if you have access to a drier place, use silica gel capsules, which are made to seal in all kinds of goods.
For more details, download our free guide on the best ways to prevent moisture damage here.
Tip #2 – Protecting Cotton and Silk Fabrics
Cotton and silk fabrics are prone to shrinking. Even though there are special treatments you can use to ensure their long term durability, it’s best to avoid direct contact with sunlight when storing your garments and textiles. Sunlight is often the cause of shrinkage in cotton and silk fabrics.
That’s because sunlight breaks down the fibers which cause a shrinkage in fabric size. The more direct sunlight your fabrics are exposed to, the faster this kind of damage will occur.
So how do you protect cotton and silk clothes? By keeping them out of sunlight! Find a dark, cool place for storage to prevent shrinkage.
Tip #3 – Protecting Synthetic Fabric Garments
Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon tend to have a longer shelf life than cotton and silk, but they’re just as susceptible to damage from direct sunlight and moisture. The best way to protect these fabrics is to store your garments in a cool and dry place.
If you have synthetic garments that have been damaged by exposure to moisture or sunlight, don’t worry! Our eHow article on how to fix damage caused by water and sunlight will guide you through the steps of repair.
Tip #4 – Making Garments Last Longer
If you’re storing your expensive clothes and textiles, chances are they are extremely valuable to you. This means you will want to protect them from damage. You’ll want to keep them looking new.
Fortunately, there are ways for you to protect your garments and textiles from damage and help extend their beauty. The most important thing is to store your clothes and textiles in the way that keeps them from getting splashed or wet.
When storing your garments, try to make sure that they are not exposed to direct sunlight, moisture, or getting splashed with water. These are all common threats to textiles and clothing items.
Another way you can help ensure the longevity of your garments is by choosing the right kind of storage box or container. You can find a variety of storage boxes that are specifically made to keep your clothing items safe.
For example, you can opt for garment bags which are made with a material that prevents wrinkles and ensures long-term protection. Another option is to store your textiles in acid free boxes which will protect them from being damaged by any air pollutants while they’re stored away.
The best way to keep your expensive textiles safe is to seal them in acid free boxes, garment bags, or other special storage containers. For more details on how to care for and store your expensive textiles and garments, check out our revised guide on this topic.
Tip #5 – Storing with Care
Once you’ve taken care of the right steps in caring for your textiles and garments, you’re ready to go! There’s one more thing you should do when storing your expensive items. And that is to store them with care! This will ensure they are protected while they are in storage.
When storing textiles, be sure to take necessary precautions to prevent damage and ensure the items have a long shelf life and retain their beauty.
