How To Store Your Scarves

storing silk scarves
storing silk scarves

I’ve received a few questions in recent weeks about storing scarves, so thought it might be a good time to re-visit this topic.

In my experience, different types of scarves require different storage solutions.  Above, I’ve found this 3-drawer clear(ish) storage unit (similar concept) is what works best for my silk scarves. It allows me to see what I have available, and allows enough air to circulate while protecting from dust and optimizes organization. The drawers are perfect for keeping scarves of the same size together. Those small round boxes on the upper right contain plissés, or pleated scarves, which should be stored rolled to maintain the pleats.

For my larger scarves, behold…The Scarf Condo!

scarf condo
The “Scarf Condo” for larger scarves

This is actually a hanging shoe storage unit, but works brilliantly for folded scarves. Again, I can easily see the “inventory,” and it’s a snap to fold and re-store scarves and keep orderly at the end of the day. Because many of my scarves contain wool and/or cashmere, I stash a cedar block in the back of each compartment to deter moths.

Care and cleaning:

  • Silk scarves. Avoid wearing your printed silk scarves in the rain, as colors can run. Unless soiled or perspired heavily upon, most of the time all your silk scarves need is an overnight airing. Drape over a towel rack or clothes drying rack. According people whose advice I trust, silk twill scarves (even Hermés) can be hand-washed in cold water, line dried and pressed with a good iron on the lowest setting. Use a detergent for delicate items and a Shout Color Catcher sheet in the wash to prevent colors from bleeding. I haven’t tried this, with any of my silk twill scarves but will the next time one of them needs laundering. (I have hand washed the very delicate, sheer vintage Liberty scarf inherited from my Grandmother and it did just fine.) You can also dry clean, but beware that cleaners will usually press the rolled hems flat. You can use a steamer and roll hem between your fingers to restore the rounded shape. The plissè scarves however should only be dry cleaned, as water will flatten the pleats.
  • Wool/cashmere/rayon/linen scarves or blends. I’m not going to lie; I wash these in a lingerie bag in the machine, gentle cycle, cold water. I use The Laundress New York Cashmere Wash and line dry over a laundry rack. If your scarf has delicate embroidery, beading, appliques or intricate fringe work, you may want to dry clean to maintain. Again, to deter moths be sure your wool and cashmere scarves are cleaned before storing away for the season, and store with cedar blocks. I’ve also heard that keeping in the freezer for a few days weeks kills moths and eggs, but have read conflicting assessments of how effective this is.

Do you have any scarf care tips and tricks? How do you store yours?

SCARVES WORTH COLLECTING…

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24 Comments

  1. Putting things in the freezer will kill moths but you need more than a few days ! You have to interrupt the life cycle . In the uk moth eggs hatch in May so I make sure they are in there at the time . I keep anything with wool or cashmere in the freezer all summmer . Some eggs can survive freezing , the grubs and moths cannot . However if they hatch out they will eat anything despite only getting nutrition from wool – it is surprising how much damage they can do to a T-shirt before dying of starvation !

  2. Great tips, Pseu! I would add that you can press silk scarves while they are still slightly damp, as the moisture left in them will “steam” out. Don’t use the steam setting, as your iron may “spit”…and use a pressing cloth, a clean white handkerchief would do – I use a thin cotton cloth diaper. I also tend to dry delicate things as flat as possible, rather than hang. I have an old, clean window screen that I prop over the bathtub for this very purpose. Works great for sweaters, too! I hadn’t heard of the Shout Color Catcher, but will try immediately! My OCD has me “filing” my small clothing pieces – like scarves – folded side facing out so I can see everything at a glance – I’ve been reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondi, also known as “the Kon-Mari method”… Your scarf condo is brilliant, I am going to implement that immediately. I thought I had an excessive amount of scarves, but comparatively, I feel I’m right on track! My scarves really “spark joy” so I will keep on, keeping on! Thanks for all you do, Pseu – you are so inspirational and informative! Peace!

  3. I use a couple of scarf hangers (they have large round metal circles grouped like a bunch of grapes). Most of my scarves are long, and the hangers allow me to see my scarves easily and keep them fairly wrinkle-free. I’m not patient enough to be as neatly organized as you are.

  4. I adore the “scarf condo” idea. You always share the most creative and helpful tips. I have a huge number of scarves, so I’m going to bookmark this post. Thank you!

  5. Love the ideas, thanks! I’m afraid I start out well with scarves, sorted by color and folded neatly in my two top drawers. Over time they become somewhat chaotically squished and erupting in all directions. But this inspires me to do better!

  6. I use moth pheromone traps and cedar blocks. The traps are designed to kill the male moths so there is no “mating” going on, which takes care of future larvae production. The cedar works to keeps the adult moths out. If the eggs are already there on the clothes, then cleaning, freezing, airing are the only ways I know of to get rid of them before they begin to eat through the material. I haven’t seen any activity since I began using these. I order my pheromone traps online http://www.saferbrand.com/store/indoor-insect/07270. I believe they’re also sold at many big box retail stores.

  7. I implemented the scarf ‘condo’ two weeks ago, with the cedar blocks. It is so satisfying to see them at the ready and not need to go digging in the plastic box! What to do with the wool/cashmere ones for the summer as I’m not sure they’ll be 100% safe from the moths (how do they get in??). Will you leave the wool/cashmere ones in the condo? I’ve had them in plastic containers with covers but that stores odors, too (I washed the odor out with a gentle soak in a plastic tub). I once left a wool scarf in a wicker drawer by the back door in my last New England apartment when I was still there and forgot to store it elsewhere for the summer. I had a mouse issue a couple of times in the kitchen and when I got around to the wicker drawer in the fall, the mouse had not only chewed up the scarf but it looked like it had been slept on as well. Storage is important!

  8. Is it damaging to keep our Hermes scarves in their original boxes? I realize that they are not visible—but other than that, is there an issue? For my long rectangular scares, I have several Scarf hangers (purchased at The Container Store and consisting of a wooden hanger with many round holes through which to pull the scarves.

  9. Oye, I need help in this area .. I have scarves – everywhere .. rolled in baskets, in drawers, on a hanger with holes (I don’t recommend this as it wrinkles the scarf) .. I like the scarf condo idea .. I have some clean up to do at the end of the month so I may give this a try.

    Monica

  10. For a beautiful but rather wrinkled thrift shop silk scarf I used a trick that I had read somewhere (maybe at Duchesse’s blog?) to hang it over the shower rail in a steamy bathroom, and then on top of the damp towel that had just dried me, over the rail again. That worked like magic.

  11. I like to hang mine from those old fashion men’s pant hangers. They clamp closed, rather that use clips and keep them wrinkle free.
    I’ve also been told if you leave items in a tightly ties plastic bag for a month the moths will die. Can’t vouch for it myself. Moths are the bane of my existence. Pesky little devils.

  12. Great post. As a side question, I have several Hermes scarves and almost never wear them. I guess I don’t feel that they work in my casual, work at home, mom (though my youngest is in high school) lifestyle right now. I don’t really see them in your posts either. How do you incorporate them in your wardrobe? Advice appreciated:)

  13. Just wanted you to know how much I love your blog. Because of your advice I purchased a clarisonic mia 2 today at my local salon (thank you Mira Salon). I’m looking forward to using it and seeing the improvements to my complexion and overall tone. Thanks for sharing.

  14. Thank you for this post. First of all I now feel better about my collection of scarves. I love the scarf condo and must make room for it in my closet. This is a post that must be saved. Great help.

  15. I learned the hard way not to wash wool in washing machine. One of my favorite scarves became doll sized. Ugh!

  16. I use hangers with one open end (presumably intended for pants) for my long scarves. Most of them have a flocked surface. I can usually fit two scarves on one hanger. Since they hang below eye level, I can easily see them – I try to sort them by color. However, the silk squares, including one precious Hermes, are folded in plastic drawers.

  17. I have a couple scarves of unknown fabric. Maybe viscose? They’re pretty typical – larger rectangle shape with pattern, no fringe, fairly translucent if held up to the light.

    Anyway, I have washed them a couple times and now the fabric sticks to itself. The scarves don’t stay flowy, they bunch all up. I have tried steaming them, handwashing in plain cold water, using wrinkle reducer, static gaurd – nothing has made this sticking issue go away! Has anyone else experienced this? Is there any solution?

    1. Amy Lou, it’s tough to say why that’s happening without knowing for sure what the fabric is. You don’t mention that you’ve tried rinsing/soaking with a liquid fabric softener. If not, that would be the next thing I’d try.