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At home, we recommend padding the folds with plenty of acid-free tissue or pre-washed cotton fabric. Place your folded textile in a box or drawer lined with that tissue or cotton. If you are going to put multiple pieces in the same box, interleave a barrier between them such as tissue paper or undyed cotton. If you can, limit the number of stacked garments, as the weight could cause unnecessary stress and creasing.
A note on bugs and cedar: Your protein-rich wool sweaters or silk gowns can be a tempting snack for the larvae of certain species of beetles and moths. Many families, ours included, store their textiles in cedar wood chests or closets to keep bugs out. Our ancestors have long been aware of the bug-repelling properties in the scent of cedar. While it is true that bugs aren’t fans of cedar, this property fades over time, and there are some inherent risks. Museums typically avoid wood storage because wood off-gasses acidic pollutants that can accelerate fiber degradation. If you store valuable clothes in cedar, we recommend lining the interior with cotton muslin or a clean cotton sheet to limit direct contact with the wood. The best defense against a pest infestation is a cool, dry environment, and regular monitoring for signs of bugs.
Hanging Storage
While flat storage is ideal, you may want to hang some of your stronger, more stable garments to save space. Costumes with heavy decoration, fabrics that were cut on a bias, or any garment that might be weak in the shoulder area can be damaged from hanging storage. Museums use padded hangers to support the textile. Sometimes a more robust mount is constructed to provide the garment with support where it would normally be on the human figure. The hung objects are stored in fabric closets or given dust covers to prevent dust accumulation.
If you’re planning to hang clothes for long-term storage, there are a few things to keep in mind. Corrosion on metal hangers can get into your fibers. Instead, opt for padded hangers with inert materials. The padding also helps to reduce the stress in the shoulders. For bonus points and extra protection from dust and abrasion, you can cover your hanging garments with a bag made from clean cotton fabric or Tyvek – a synthetic, pH neutral material.