:wardrobe overhaul The COMPLETE
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to take a good, hard look at the state of your wardrobe
PROBLEM – LONG-TERM STORAGE
MISTAKE – Wrapping clothes in plastic, which causes condensation that eventually leads to discolouration
SOLUTION – Keep clothes, including cashmere, in a small duvet cover or pillow case and add some lavender bags. Alternatively, invest in acid free boxes for storing out of season clothes in. You could also use a mesh bag which fits easily under the bed.
PROBLEM – PUTTING WARDROBE AESTHETICS BEFORE PRACTICALITY
MISTAKE
1. Buying beautiful padded or wooden hangers, which look lovely but take up a lot of space.
2. Mixing up different-coloured clothing – it looks pretty, but you will never find anything. SOLUTION
1. Plastic hangers may not be as attractive, but they take up very little room.
2. Arrange clothes by colour and type – skirts, trousers, shirts, etc. This makes putting an outfit together so much easier.
PROBLEM – MOTHS MISTAKE – Storing dirty cloths
SOLUTION – Wash everything before you store it. Moths love old fat and food and if you store a clean jumper with one that has been worn even just once, the moth will eat both. Cedar wood keeps moths at bay but it is oily and should not touch the clothes. Screw cedar wood blocks into the cupboard or under shelves. Lavender bags also work but need to be replaced annually. Moths also hate rosemary, thyme, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon.
PROBLEM – UNWANTED ODOURS
MISTAKE – Most of us keep shoes in the wardrobe and over time if they begin to smell, clothes are affected too.
SOLUTION – Put a bowl of vanilla pods in your closet. Linen spray or pot pourri will also make your wardrobe smell divine. Or burn a candle in your dressing room if you have one.
74 | www.hermagazine.co.nz
