Putting winter woollens away? Read this first.

Every October we see the same thing at the counter: a blanket that was cleaned last winter, stored carefully, and has come out of the cupboard with a yellow patch along the fold and a smell that will not lift. Nine times out of ten, the cleaning was fine. The storage was not.

The ₹300 mistake

You pay ₹300 to clean a single blanket, bring it home in the plastic bag from the shop, and put the whole thing — bag and all — on the top shelf until next winter. That is the mistake. The plastic traps whatever moisture is left in the fibre, the shelf gets warm, and by February the blanket has mildew in the creases. The ₹300 clean is wasted, and the smell is now in the wool.

The fix costs nothing: take the blanket out of the plastic, let it air for a day in the shade, and store it in a cotton or canvas bag instead.

1. Clean it before you store it, not after

Moths are not attracted to clean wool. They are attracted to the protein in the fibre plus the sweat, skin cells and food traces left behind. A blanket that looks clean but has been used all winter is a meal. The same goes for sweaters, shawls and woollen suits.

Dry cleaning is the safest route for blankets, rajai, structured jackets and anything with a lining. Follow the care label for plain knitwear, and remember that a double-bed blanket is too heavy for a domestic machine and too easy to ruin in a bucket.

2. Dry it completely. Then dry it again.

Wool can hold a surprising amount of moisture without feeling damp. A blanket that is “dry to the touch” may still be holding enough water to start mildew in a closed cupboard. Let it air in the shade for a full day, turn it over halfway, and make sure the centre of a folded blanket is dry too.

Never dry wool in direct sun. The ultraviolet light fades dye and makes the fibre brittle. Shade and moving air are what you want.

3. Fold, do not hang

Hanging a sweater or a heavy shawl stretches the shoulders and distorts the shape. Fold knits and blankets instead. Use acid-free tissue or clean cotton at the main creases, and do not press the folds too sharply — a hard crease becomes a weak line in the fibre over time.

For a very heavy rajai, fold it loosely rather than compressing it into a tight bundle. The filling needs some air to keep its loft.

4. Skip the vacuum bag

Vacuum storage bags are excellent for cotton quilts and out-of-season curtains. They are a bad idea for wool. Compressing the fibre for months sets permanent creases and crushes the loft of a blanket or a quilted rajai. If space is tight, use a breathable cotton bag and store the blanket flat under a bed rather than sucking the life out of it.

5. Make the cupboard hostile to moths

• Light and air. Moths prefer dark, still, undisturbed spaces. Open the cupboard for an hour once a month.
• Cedar and neem. Cedar blocks, lavender bags and dried neem leaves help. Refresh them every season — the oils evaporate.
• No direct contact with naphthalene. Mothballs placed against the fabric can leave a smell that is almost impossible to remove and may yellow wool. If you use them, keep them in a cloth bag at the corner of the shelf.
• Clean the shelf. Vacuum the cupboard before you put the winter things away. Eggs and larvae can survive in dust and lint.

6. The mid-winter check

In January, take each woollen out, shake it, and look along the folds and under the arms. Moth damage starts as a tiny hole and a few grains of what looks like sand. Catch it early and you can save the garment; leave it until March and you will find a line of holes along a crease.

If you do find larvae, isolate the item, have it dry cleaned, and clean the whole shelf. Do not put it back with the rest.

7. Pilling is not a defect

Little bobbles under the arms and along the sides of a sweater are normal for wool, cashmere and blends. They form where the fibre rubs. Remove them with a fabric comb or a small battery shaver, gently, and stop when the surface is smooth. Do not pull them off — that drags more fibre loose.

8. What to do about a stain before storage

Blot, do not rub. For oil, dust with talcum powder and leave it for a few hours. For food or drink, blot with cool water on a white cloth. Then get it cleaned — a stain that goes into storage for six months becomes a permanent dye mark, especially on wool and silk.

The short version

1. Clean everything before storage, even if it looks clean.
2. Air it in the shade until completely dry.
3. Fold, do not hang. No vacuum bags for wool.
4. Store in cotton, with cedar or neem, in a dry cupboard.
5. Open the cupboard and check everything once a month.

If it is already too late

Bring it in. We can clean and sanitise a musty blanket and often lift light yellowing, but mildew that has stained the fibre is permanent and moth holes cannot be woven back invisibly. We will tell you honestly which category your blanket is in before you spend money on it.

Blankets, rajai and quilts are cleaned from ₹200, with double-bed blankets at ₹250–₹500 depending on the type. Pickup and delivery are free across South Delhi.