Seasonal Change Archives - Jeffrey Phillip

Despite having a glorious 90-degree day in March this year, we can now confidently say that the warmer, summer weather will soon be here to stay for the season.

While you begin to slowly transition your wardrobe from winter to summer, give some consideration to properly storing and protecting your winter wears by following the steps below.

Steps to Safely Storing Your Winter Wears

Launder or dry clean all garments, blankets and linens to remove dirt, stains and to ensure there are no moth larva in the fibers
Place the cleaned and neatly folded items into a garment box or bag. Wool, cashmere or garments containing a blend of either fiber should be placed in sealed plastic bags or bins to prevent unwelcome guests from dropping by over the summer. Cotton and other fabrics should be stored in containers that can breath to prevent trapping any moisture, which can lead to mildew. If you are using a cardboard box, you also want to be sure there is no acid or coloring in the cardboard that could possibly ruin your items during storage
Place a moth repellent item such as cedar blocks, a cedar sachet or my personal favorite Moth Away in the storage container
Store your protected items in a cool, dry location such as the top shelf of a closet

By following these simple steps, your cold-weather comforts will be clean, fresh and ready to go when the winter season hits.

P.S. – Moth Away has quickly become one of my closet staples. This all natural repellent not only protects your clothing, but it keeps it smelling fresh. The peppermint, rosemary, thyme and clove combination smells wonderful and provides a burst of calming scent every time I open my storage containers.

Twice a year, at the beginning and end of daylight savings, I take the time to do those certain household chores that we either don’t think about throughout the year, or we put off doing for various reasons. Today, after you have changed all your clocks and watches, take some time to do these chores to make sure your home is in tip-top shape for the next several months. If you don’t have time today, set a date for the next two weeks to have these items checked off your to-do list.

Mattress – Depending on the type of mattress you have, it is important to flip and/or rotate it 180 degrees to help extend its life and maintain its comfort. Check the care instructions to see if this is advised for your mattress.

Safety – Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace any smoke detectors older than 10 years and carbon monoxide detectors older than five to seven years.

Pantry – Remove any expired items from your pantry and make a list of the items that need to be replaced to ensure you are never short ingredients.

First Aid – Sort through your first aid kit and medicine cabinet, and make a list of items that need to be replaced due to low quantities or expiration dates.

Storm Supplies – Check your emergency preparedness kits to ensure that all items remain fully stocked, that batteries have not expired or leaked, and that all radios and flashlights are in proper working order. If there are any items missing or items that were partially used during a recent storm, be sure to add them to your shopping list and replace them immediately. If you do not yet have an emergency kit, here are some helpful resources from the American Red Cross and FEMA to build your own.

Wardrobe – Edit your wardrobe to remove any unwanted items and to make room for the new pieces you will be purchasing for the coming season or that you may be rotating out of seasonal storage.

Photograph by Patrick Seeger/dpa/Corbis

Tag: Seasonal Change

Protecting Your Winter Wears

Daylight Savings To-Do’s