Dry completely before storing
Residual moisture is the most common cause of a musty smell in stored bedding and towels. Items should be fully dry before they go into a cupboard or box. In German flats, where laundry is often air-dried indoors during the colder months, brief airing of the room after drying helps manage the humidity that the laundry releases.
Fold or hang
How an item is stored depends on the fibre and the garment:
- Fold knitwear and heavy wool to avoid the shoulder stretching that hangers cause.
- Hang structured shirts and jackets so creases fall out under their own weight.
- Roll bulky items such as towels where shelf space is limited; rolling also reduces hard fold lines.
Ventilation matters: Cupboards packed too tightly trap moisture. Leaving a little air space between stacks lets textiles breathe and dry out any small amount of residual humidity.
Protecting against moths
Clothes moths target protein fibres such as wool and silk. The practical defences are simple and chemical-free:
- Store only clean textiles, as food and skin residues attract larvae.
- Use sealed boxes or garment bags for items put away for a full season.
- Air and inspect stored woollens periodically rather than leaving them untouched for years.
Seasonal rotation
Many households rotate textiles with the seasons: heavier duvets and woollens in winter, lighter linen and cotton in summer. Washing items before they are put away, and again is not required when they come back out if storage was clean and dry, keeps the cycle straightforward.
General fibre behaviour relevant to storage is summarised in the public reference on textiles. See also the companion guides on cotton and linen care and wool and silk care.