FINDING your favorite coat or sweater crumpled up on the floor of your closet can drive most of us mad.
But professional home organizer Diane Lowy, founder of New York At Home, has tips on how to keep your clothing in good shape.
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Using the right hangers can extend the life of clothingCredit: Getty
“It depends on how frequently you use items,” Lowy told The Sun. “I like to use hangers for things that you’re reaching for on a regular basis. If you’re not going to wear things for a while, it’s easier to fold them and put them into storage.”
When it comes to hangers, she said using the right one can extend the life of your clothing.
Thick wooden hangers that support the shoulders are the best option, especially for heavier clothing.
If your clothing is being stored in a smaller space with items such as larger coats, chrome hangers are a good, strong alternative with their rounded edges.
Hanging thick coats on two weaker hangers together is a perfect option for working with what already exists in your closet.
She also recommends leaving space in your closet for your clothing to breathe.
“I like to say having 10 to 15 smaller items per foot, and if you’re doing something like coats and jackets, that depending on the size, having five to 10 per foot it a better ratio to use,” Lowy said.
She does, however, recommend folding items like sweaters rather than leaving them on hangers to maximize their life.
But if you prefer to hang them, using the right hanger is important.
“Let’s say you have a wool sweater that you super love, if you have it hanging on a really pokey hanger for a couple of months, that can ruin the shoulders,” Lowy said. “If you use a proper hanger, you can wear that wool sweater for years.”
As winter wraps up and spring nears, Lowy says to store coats zipped and buttoned after cleaning them, so they keep their shape.
“The oils and dirt from the outside world and collected oils from your skin can attract bugs and moths and that kind of thing,” she said.