How to Store Winter Cashmere and Protect It from Moths

Cashmere sweaters are the most frequently damaged garments during seasonal storage, which is why knowing how to store cashmere sweaters and how to protect cashmere from moths is essential before warmer weather arrives. The damage is not caused by time. It is caused by what was left in the fabric when it was put away — perspiration, body oils, food residue, and invisible traces of organic material that attract moths and oxidise into yellow stains over months. A cashmere sweater that looks clean going into a drawer in April may emerge in October with holes, yellowing, and a musty smell that no amount of airing will remove. The prevention is straightforward. The order matters.

01Why cashmere must be cleaned before storage

The single most important step in storing cashmere is cleaning it before it goes away. Perspiration and body oils are invisible on a garment that looks clean. Over months in a closed drawer or wardrobe, those oils oxidise. The oxidation produces the yellow staining that appears around necklines, cuffs, and underarms on garments that were “clean enough” when stored.

More critically, body oils and food traces are what attract clothes moths. A moth does not eat cashmere because it is cashmere. It eats the organic residue on the surface. A professionally cleaned cashmere sweater stored in the right conditions is far less attractive to moths than an unwashed one stored in the wrong conditions.

Professional cleaning also removes dust and environmental pollutants that embed in the fibre during wear. These particles accelerate pilling — the small fibre balls that form on the surface of cashmere — when the garment rubs against other fabrics in storage.

02Why moths target cashmere specifically

Clothes moth larvae feed on keratin — the protein found in animal fibres including wool, cashmere, silk, and fur. Cashmere is finer than standard wool, which means the fibres are thinner and the damage from larvae is proportionally more destructive. A moth hole in a cotton shirt is a nuisance. A moth hole in a cashmere sweater is structural damage to a garment that may cost several hundred pounds to replace.

Adult moths do not eat fabric. The damage is done by larvae, which are small, pale, and difficult to spot until the holes appear. The larvae are attracted to dark, undisturbed environments with organic residue on the fabric — the exact conditions created by storing an uncleaned garment in a closed drawer for six months.

03The storage method that prevents damage

• Fold, never hang. Cashmere stretches under its own weight. A cashmere sweater stored on a hanger for months develops shoulder bumps and a distorted neckline. Fold flat with tissue paper between layers to prevent creasing and fibre friction.
• Use breathable containers. Sealed plastic bags trap moisture and prevent air circulation, creating conditions for mildew. Breathable cotton storage bags or acid-free boxes allow air movement while keeping moths out.
• Store in a cool, dry, dark place. Heat accelerates oxidation. Light fades colour. Moisture promotes mildew. A wardrobe shelf or a dedicated drawer away from direct sunlight and heat sources is the right environment.
• Place moth deterrents inside the container. Cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or pheromone moth traps placed alongside the garments create an environment that repels or catches moths before they reach the fabric.
• Do not compress. Overpacking cashmere into tight spaces crushes the fibres and creates permanent creasing. Allow each garment enough space to lie flat without pressure from above. For year-round maintenance tips beyond seasonal storage, read our complete guide on how to store cashmere and keep knitwear soft between seasons.

04Cedar, lavender, and mothballs: what actually works

Cedar contains natural oils (thujone and cedrol) that repel clothes moth larvae. Cedar blocks, rings, or shavings placed inside the storage container create a barrier. The oils diminish over time — sand the surface of cedar blocks lightly every six months to refresh the scent.

Lavender sachets repel adult moths but are less effective against larvae already present. Lavender works as a preventive measure alongside clean garments, not as a treatment for an active infestation.

Mothballs (naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) are effective but leave a persistent chemical odour on fabric that is difficult to remove. They are toxic to pets and children. For cashmere stored in a home environment, cedar and lavender are the safer and more practical options. Pheromone moth traps catch adult males and reduce breeding but do not eliminate larvae already in the wardrobe.

05How to choose a cashmere sweater cleaner

The cleaning method matters as much as the storage method. A cashmere sweater cleaned with perchloroethylene before storage is stripped of the natural oils that keep the fibre soft. The garment goes into storage structurally weakened. When it comes out, it feels drier, coarser, and thinner than it did going in — and the owner attributes the change to storage rather than to the cleaning.

The best dry cleaners for cashmere use methods that preserve the fibre’s natural oils: professional wet cleaning at low temperatures (as low as 15 degrees) with pH-neutral, biodegradable detergents, or liquid CO₂ cleaning that is chemically inert with respect to protein fibres. At BLANC, the method is selected per garment. A cashmere coat and a cashmere scarf from the same client may receive different treatments because the weight, the construction, and the staining differ.

Standard turnaround is 48 to 72 hours. Schedule a pre-storage clean through our professional dry cleaning service at blancliving.co or call 020 8004 2630, with complimentary collection and delivery on orders over £30.

06What to check when cashmere comes out of storage

Inspect before wearing. Look for moth holes (small, irregular, often near seams or folds), yellowing (around necklines and cuffs), and pilling (surface fibre balls). Air the garment in a well-ventilated room for 24 hours before wearing to release any residual storage odour. Reviewing the core essentials for wardrobe upkeep at the start of autumn also helps ensure knitwear, coats, and tailoring transition back into daily rotation in proper condition.

If moth damage is present, bring the garment to a professional cleaner before wearing. Larvae may still be present in the fibre and will continue to damage the garment if it is returned to the wardrobe untreated. BLANC’s ozone treatment provides non-toxic disinfection that eliminates larvae and eggs without damaging the cashmere.