Wool coat care tips requested

JulieJohn

Ahoy, me mateys!

I got a new wool-polyester blend coat for winter. What is the best way to keep it moth-free while hanging on a hanger? It will be hanging in my closet most of the time, and the closet has no doors.

I've only owned a couple of wool items in my time, and I halfheartedly used a few cedar hanging block thingys, but the clothes got moth holes! That terrible fate cannot happen to my new beautiful coat! Noooooooo!!!!

I'm sorry I'm so clueless. Just chalk it up to being in a hot locale. (Not that the heat makes one clueless, but that I never learned how to care for wool - ha ha)

13 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from JulieJohn

K. Period.

Veteran

I've researched this a lot recently. Cedar is pretty useless against moths, as is lavender. A tight fitting container and a dry cleaner are your best friends. I have my jackets dry cleaned at the end of the season and then, as soon as they are returned, I put them in a ziplock storage container like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-D.....ge+bags+xl

The bags and dry cleaning are expensive, but way less expensive than a new coat.

(I lost a heartbreaking number of sweaters, several coats and some good wool rugs to moths when I moved to Portland and lost more when I moved to a new home in Portland. If you have moths, it is way better to be overcautious. It seems like once you have them in a home, they come back no matter what you do.)

13 years ago

JulieJohn

Veteran

Thank you, k. You're right about cedar, and good to know lavender is similarly a no-go. I like your ziploc idea very much for the warm seasons, but I am still interested in what I could use when it's hanging on its hanger for the cool seasons. It is currently in a thin plastic garment bag, open at the bottom. So exposed, so exposed!

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Is your cold season not very cold? I haven't had any problems in the coolish winter. The moths are pretty inactive. They are also disturbed/disrupted by sunlight and activity, so really the best possible protection is to wear it all the time. That's why they strike and decimate in the summer when clothes are packed away, but you never notice the problem in the winter. (Grrrrrr. Hate moths.)

13 years ago

Anonymous

I found this online article on clothes moth control in Washington state. Looks like there's info online for other geographic areas too.

http://watoxics.org/healthy-li.....thingmoths

Megan

13 years ago

Raisin

Veteran

Wow, I've had a wool coat for about 4 years now and never even considered moth damage. I thought you were talking about water repellant sprays and such. I guess I'm lucky I haven't had any damage to mine.....or more likely living in Canada is moth control itself, right? Haha.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

RunnerRae, you laugh, but it is! I l grew up in northeast Washington and never had to worry about moths. The combination of cold winters and dry hot summers create an environment inhospitable to moths. The temperate, moist climate where I live now is perfect for them. That's why I've fallen prey to them several times. I'm just not used to even considering that they are a risk. Hopefully my losses can be JulieJohn's gain!

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I have lots of wool, but no moths (knock on wood!) I really don't know anyone that does have them, actually. Could just be the extreme cold here doesn't bode well for them. The feet of snow that will be here soon might be what keeps them away! Sometimes it almost drives me away!

13 years ago

JulieJohn

Veteran

Thank you all. I appreciate the wisdom, and I didn't know moths were not a problem in cold climates. I am in a hot climate, Southern California, and we have always had moths. Not in a big way, but it only takes one with a good appetite!

Alldogs1 - that link was really helpful and I learned a lot. My plan is to wear the coat and handle it frequently in the winter. In summer, get it cleaned and put it away in a sealed bag, but also take it out periodically and shake it all about to remove the larvae. I might get some moth traps too.

13 years ago

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