1st – Never store your items in plastic dry-cleaning bags for any more than a few days (this is especially true in areas where there is little air movement).  Why?  You want air change in the environment next to your clothes – otherwise moisture and organic compounds naturally found in your home environment can build up and actually chemically interact with the dyes and fibers of your garments causing permanent problems.  One of the most destructive possibilities is something called ‘fume fading’ this looks like your garment has been bleached by the sun, yet the color change is actually caused in your closet!!

2nd – Never put your clothes away for the season dirty.  Two possible garment wrecking situations arise from storing dirty items – moths, and oxidation of clear stain items.  OK – last first, that white wine you spilled on your cream silk sweater dried clear, but when it sits for a while the ingredients in the stain oxidize (like rust) and the clear spill becomes a dark stain that becomes very difficult for even Best Cleaners to resolve.  And last but not least MOTHS!!!  Moths can be found in nearly every home if there is food – and the type of moth larvae that eats holes in your garments will eat any remaining ‘organic’ matter on your clothes.  This ranges from salt from a collar touching your skin to a tiny drop of soda on a pant cuff.

To Learn more about how to prevent moths from visiting your wardrobe go to this University of California article