How to Store Winter Coats

Last Updated: June 13, 2022 References

Many winter coats can be folded and stacked in a plastic box to keep them clean and dust free until next winter.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Robert Rybarski
Organizational Specialist
Expert Interview. 31 January 2020.} If you're short on storage space, some coats can be stored using vacuum storage bags, provided the coat isn’t made of or stuffed with a natural fiber. Heavier coats and coats made of natural materials, like leather, suede, wool, or down, need a little special attention. Natural materials need to breathe, so they can’t be stored in plastic. Get to know the best ways to store your winter coats, and you’ll maximize their lifespans and your storage space.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing Coats for Storage

1
Wash your coats. Prior to storing them, you need to first wash them. Day to day, coats are exposed to germs, oils, food stains, and other messy substances, and you wouldn’t want any of these to discolor the fabric or attract bugs while they’re in storage. Check your coats’ tags for washing instructions.^{[2]
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- Puffy coats, fleeces, and many other types of jackets and coats can be machine washed, but wool, cashmere, leather and other natural materials require dry cleaning and other special storage care.
- Machine washable coats can also typically be dried in your dryer. Use a low setting and clean tennis balls to help keep their form.
2
Check pockets and seal fastenings. Double check all pockets for gum, papers, money, and so on before and after you wash them. Fasten all zippers, buttons, and snaps. Buttoning everything up will help the fabric keep its form while it’s in storage.^{[3]
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3
Organize coats by material and type. If you and your family have lots of coats with varying materials, you should organize coats into separate categories in order to store each material properly. Use the biggest bed in the house, or another broad surface, to make different piles for wool or cashmere coats, puffy down coats, leather, denim, and so on.^{[4]
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- Keep them separated by family member as well for best organization.
- The less you have to store, the easier it is. Now’s your chance to trim your wardrobe by donating winter coats and clothes you don’t often wear.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Storage Boxes and Vacuum Sealed Bags

1
Fold neatly. It’s best to fold sweaters, knits, and lighter coats, but heavy and dressy coats should be hung rather than stored in boxes. Fold the sleeves back at the seam where they meet the coat’s body. Fold the coat in half top-to-bottom. All you should see if the front top half of the coat.^{[5]
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- If it’s absolutely impossible to hang a heavy coat, roll it up tightly to prevent creases.
- Fold the sleeves back neatly and roll carefully from the top, taking care to not to roll in any creases or wrinkles. If you have to, fold the coat in half at the zipper or buttons before you roll.
2
Label your storage containers. Set a box or boxes aside for each family member or coat category. Label the boxes with the appropriate name. Use masking tape for the labels so they’re not only easily identified, but reusable for next storage season.
- You should pick plastic boxes over cardboard. Some bugs like to eat cardboard, and it’s not mold or mildew resistant.
- Airtight storage is best, unless your coat is wool, cashmere, leather, suede, or another natural fiber.^{[6]
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3
Stack coats by weight. Store heavier items on the bottom. This is better for the materials, and it’ll make it easier on you on next autumn’s first cool day. You’ll more than likely want a lighter jacket rather than a coat meant for the tundra, so leave items on top that you’ll use first.^{[7]
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- Place cedar blocks or lavender sachets into the box before sealing it to keep your coats smelling fresh and to repel insects.
4
Use a vacuum sealed bag for puffy coats. Since they take up so much room, puffy jackets made of non-natural fibers are best stored in vacuum sealed bags. Sucking all the air out of the coat and the plastic storage bag will allow you to store several jackets in a space where only one would have previously fit. Once you open the bag, air will reinflate the coat.^{[8]
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- Make sure your puffy coat is stuffed with polyfill, which is polyester and thus an artificial fiber. A down-stuffed coat should be stored in a garment bag, so it can breathe.
- If the coat is still flat after you take it out of the bag, throw it in the dryer for 10 minutes on a no heat setting with a clean tennis ball to give it some fluff.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing Natural Fabrics

1
Have the coat dry cleaned. Your wool, suede, or leather coat should be professionally cleaned before packing it up for the season. While this can get expensive if you have a number of natural fiber coats, it’s a necessary step in preserving their quality and extending their lifespan. Perfume, food, and even imperceptible stains, for example, can discolor leather or suede and cause irreversible damage.^{[9]
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- Use leather conditioner before storage to keep your leather jacket from drying out while it’s put away. Always test out a conditioning product on an inconspicuous spot first, like under an arm.
2
Freeze your wool, cashmere, or leather. Believe it or not, freezing your leather overnight is actually a good way to freshen up your leather. It’ll kill bacteria and tiny insects, and get rid of odors. It’s also great for wools and cashmere for the same reasons, and you’ll be far less like to have any little bugs eating your fabrics while they’re stored away.^{[10]
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- Use an appropriately sized bag to cover up your garment.
- Using plastic is okay here: there’s a difference between keeping an item in plastic for a matter of hours versus storing it sealed in plastic for months.
3
Hang in garment bags. Hang heavy coats on thick wooden hangers that are capable of supporting their weight, and hang lighter coats on velvet hangers.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Ashley Moon, MA
Organizational Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.} Cover them up in cloth garment bags for moisture protection. Cloth bags will prevent mold and mildew while letting natural materials breath.^{[12]
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- No wire hangers, Mommie Dearest: use only wood. Thick plastic hangers are a fair substitute if wood hangers aren’t available.
- Try to find a closet that’s about 65 to 68 degrees, low in humidity, and away from any heat ducts. If leather gets too hot, it could crack. Heat and humidity aren’t good for other natural fibers, either.^{[13]
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- If possible, hang your winter clothes in a spare closet during the summer months so you don't have to worry about them when you won't be wearing them anyway.^{[14]
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  Expert Source
  
  Robert Rybarski
  Organizational Specialist
  Expert Interview. 31 January 2020.}

Community Q&A

Question

I don't have enough space to store all my jackets. What do I do?

Community Answer

Get yourself a bin with a lid or a vacuum sealer to compress your coats for easier storage. Or you could sell/donate some of them.
Question

Is a cardboard box a good place to store a sheepskin coat?

Community Answer

No, if it is a sheepskin coat, try hanging it in a protective seal and then hang it normally.
Question

Could I hang a wool coat by its label?

Mary Beth Toca

Community Answer

You could, but the label might eventually wear off. A better choice would be to find a hanger with fabric around it so that the coat will not slip off.