How to Refresh Your Clothes After Taking Them Out of Storage

Clothes can come out of storage looking a little worse for wear. They may smell stale, have deep wrinkles, or simply need some attention before going back into your closet. Start by inspecting each item for stains, moisture, pests, and damage. Then, follow the garment’s care label to wash, air out, steam, or otherwise freshen it. 

Don’t automatically throw everything into the washing machine. Some clothes may only need to air out, while delicate fabrics, coats, and other pieces may require special care. 

Key takeaways 

• Inspect stored clothing before putting it back into your closet. 
• Look for moisture, stains, discoloration, pests, holes, and other damage. 
• Air out stale-smelling clothes in a well-ventilated area. 
• Follow garment care labels before washing or drying anything. 
• Wash clothing that smells dirty or has been exposed to dust or other debris. 
• Use a steamer, iron, or dryer according to the care label to tackle wrinkles. 
• Don’t put damp or musty clothing directly into your closet. 
• Clean your closet before returning seasonal clothes to it. 
• Check storage containers for moisture, damage, or other problems before using them again. 

Open clothing containers somewhere with good airflow 

Resist the urge to open a box of stored clothing on your bed and dump everything out immediately. Instead, open containers in an area with good airflow and plenty of room to inspect the contents. 

Pay attention as soon as you lift the lid. Does anything smell musty? Is the container damp? Do you see insects, droppings, webbing, or other signs of pests? Finding a problem before you scatter everything around the room can make cleanup much easier. 

Inspect your clothes 

Look at each piece before hanging it in your closet or putting it into a drawer. 

Check for: 

• Stains 
• Discoloration 
• Mold or mildew 
• Dampness 
• Musty odors 
• Holes 
• Loose seams 
• Missing buttons 
• Broken zippers 
• Signs of insects or other pests 

Pay particular attention to folds, pockets, cuffs, collars, and other places where problems may be less noticeable. 

If you find damp or moldy clothing, separate it from the rest of your clothes instead of putting it in your closet. 

Air clothes out 

Sometimes stored clothing isn’t dirty. It just smells like it’s been sitting in a box for six months because, well, it has. 

Hang clothing in a well-ventilated area and let it air out. You can use a clothesline or drying rack if the fabric and weather conditions allow. Indoors, space clothes apart so air can circulate around them rather than packing everything tightly onto a clothing rack. 

Airing clothes out may be enough to freshen pieces that were clean when you stored them. 

Wash clothes that need it 

If your clothing still smells stale after airing out or has gotten dirty in storage, wash it before putting it away.  Sort washable clothing according to its normal washing requirements, including fabric type, color, and water temperature.  

Use the recommended amount of laundry detergent rather than adding extra detergent to make clothes smell fresher. More detergent doesn’t necessarily mean cleaner clothes, and excess detergent may leave residue behind. 

Dry everything according to its care instructions and make sure clothing is completely dry before putting it into your closet or dresser. 

Deal with musty smells 

A musty smell deserves a little more attention than a general “this has been in a box” smell. First, check the clothing and container for moisture, mold, or mildew. Don’t simply spray the garment with fragrance and put it into your closet. 

If there’s no visible mold or mildew and the garment is washable, launder it according to its care label. For items that can’t go into the washing machine, follow the garment’s cleaning instructions. Some pieces may need to be dry cleaned or cleaned by another method. 

Make sure the odor is gone and the clothing is completely dry before returning it to your closet. 

Get wrinkles out of stored clothes 

Even carefully folded clothes can develop some impressive creases after spending months in a container. Check the care label before deciding how to remove them. 

Depending on the fabric, you may be able to: 

• Steam the garment 
• Iron it 
• Put it in the dryer for a short period 
• Hang it in a steamy bathroom 

Use extra caution with delicate fabrics and anything that can be damaged by high heat. 

If you’re dealing with an especially stubborn crease, don’t keep increasing the heat and hoping for the best. Check the garment’s care instructions. 

Give sweaters time to regain their shape 

Sweaters and other knitted garments may look a little flat after spending months folded in storage. Shake them out gently and lay them flat for a while. 

If a sweater needs washing, follow its care label carefully. Some sweaters need to be handwashed or laid flat to dry to prevent shrinking or stretching. 

Don’t automatically hang heavy sweaters after you refresh them. Hanging can stretch some knits, particularly around the shoulders. Fold them if that’s the better storage method for the garment. 

Check shoes and accessories, too 

If you stored seasonal clothing, you likely packed accessories with it. Check scarves, hats, gloves, handbags, belts, and shoes before returning them to your regular rotation. 

Shake out shoes and look inside them before putting them on. (There may be spiders and other pests lurking inside.) Check handbags and pockets for anything you may have accidentally left behind. Then wipe dust from items when their care instructions allow it, and check leather and other specialty materials for signs that they need additional care. 

Make repairs before putting clothes away 

Don’t hang a shirt with a missing button in your closet and tell yourself you’ll deal with it later. You know how this story ends. Create a small repair pile as you unpack. Look for: 

• Missing buttons 
• Loose hems 
• Small holes 
• Broken zippers 
• Loose threads 
• Damaged hooks or closures 
• Other minor problems 

Repair what you can, or take pieces that need more work to a tailor or repair shop. 

Getting these jobs done now means the clothing will actually be ready when you want to wear it. 

Stored clothing FAQ 

Do you need to wash clothes after taking them out of storage? 

Not necessarily. If clothes were clean when stored and still look and smell fresh, airing them out may be enough. Wash clothing that smells stale, has gotten dirty, or otherwise needs cleaning, following the care label. 

How do you get the storage smell out of clothes? 

Start by airing clothes in a well-ventilated area. If the smell remains, wash washable garments according to their care labels. Check musty-smelling clothing for moisture, mold, or mildew rather than simply covering the odor with fragrance. 

How long should you air out clothes after storage? 

There’s no single amount of time that works for every garment. Give clothes enough time in a well-ventilated area for stale odors to dissipate, then check them again. Wash or otherwise clean pieces that still smell. 

How do you get wrinkles out of clothes that have been stored? 

Check the care label first. Depending on the fabric, you may be able to steam, iron, wash, or tumble dry the garment to remove wrinkles. Avoid using high heat on fabrics that can be damaged by it. 

What should you do if stored clothes are damp? 

Separate damp clothing from the rest of your wardrobe. Check for mold, mildew, odors, and other damage, then clean the clothing according to its care instructions. Don’t put it into your closet until it’s completely dry. 

Should you clean your closet before putting seasonal clothes back? 

It’s a good opportunity to do it. Vacuum or sweep the floor, wipe shelves, remove dust, and get rid of anything you no longer need before putting your seasonal wardrobe back into place. 

How can you keep clothes fresher the next time you store them? 

Clean clothing before storage, make sure everything is completely dry, use clean storage containers, and keep clothing in a dry storage area. Label containers so you don’t have to dig through several boxes when you need something.