Safely Store Closet Valuables

I have a lot of fabric items such as my wedding dress and antique lace that I would like to preserve. What is the best way to store them?

Denise, Ivoryton

Many of us have treasures in our attics, basements, closets, etc. that represent our family history. Nothing breaks my heart more when I see such special pieces shoved in a cardboard box or improperly stored in a damp basement. Follow these tips and you will safely store your valuables for years to come.
First, let’s start with wedding dresses. Professionally cleaning the dress at a dry cleaner as soon as possible after it is worn is a must. Unfortunately, stains caused by perfume, alcohol or sweat can ruin the fabric permanently if not taken care of quickly. The bonus of taking it to the dry cleaner is that many offer services to properly preserve and pack your dress.
You have two options. You can store the dress by hanging it or boxing it. While hanging helps prevent crease problems, boxes can be a more space efficient way to hold on to it. Purchasing acid free tissue paper will be helpful if you are going to box the dress yourself. Place the tissue paper in between the folds and around the box to prevent any future damage. If you are hanging it, experts recommend stuffing the inside of the arms, bodice and any other deep folds with the paper. Then cover it with a muslin garment bag. Either way, the dress should be stored in a cool, dry place and checked on annually to be sure no long term damage is occurring.
Other fabric items such as quilts or other textiles should be handled similarly. Using two clean cotton sheets, fold the fabric you wish to preserve in an accordion style in between the sheets. It is not recommended that you store these types of items in plastic or cardboard. Ideally, they should be stored in a drawer or a cedar chest. Be sure to air out the items at least once a year and avoid direct sunlight.
Any other fragile antique textiles like silk, wall hangings etc, should be handled with cotton gloves on. Again, a professional dry cleaner is your best bet for packaging these properly. Be sure to remove any metal rings or hooks before storing these items because they can cause damage. Textiles, such as wall hangings, can be stored by hanging, boxing or rolling in a tube, depending on the size.
Vintage laces and linens should be hand washed in hot water and a mild soap. Line drying these items is recommended to avoid further damage. If ironing is required, use distilled water, which can be purchased at your local grocery store, to mist the back of the fabric. Keep embroidery and other embellishments away from the direct heat of the iron.
A few other things to note when storing fabrics are to never use colored tissue paper, even if it is acid free. The color can bleed on to your fabrics. In addition, the larger the storage box, the less folds you will have to make to store the fabric. Also, it is wise to photograph or video tape valuable items for insurance purposes.
When packing these items away be sure to share the stories with your loved ones so they understand the value of this item to you or your family. By sharing the stories with others, these items will have even greater meaning to future generations and avoid being tossed should your house ever need to be cleared out without you around. With proper care your fabric heirlooms should be ready for display or use for years to come.
Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.