I pulled my wool coat out of the closet last November and it smelled like a basement. Not a little bit — like I had been storing it in a damp cellar for six months. I had to get it dry cleaned two days before a work event, and the cleaner told me the musty smell was from moisture trapped in the closet with no airflow.

That was the year I learned that throwing a coat on a hanger and forgetting about it for eight months is not storage — it is neglect. Here is how to do it right.

Clean Before You Store

Do not put a dirty coat into storage. Body oils, food residue, and deodorant stains attract moths, and the stains oxidize over time into yellow patches that are nearly impossible to remove later. Dry clean wool coats and wash down or synthetic jackets according to the care label. Let everything dry completely — bone dry — before storing.

Choose the Right Bag

Plastic dry cleaning bags are terrible for long-term storage. They trap moisture and do not let the fabric breathe. Use a breathable garment bag made of cotton or canvas instead. If you do not have a garment bag, an old cotton pillowcase with a hole cut in the closed end works — slide the hanger hook through the hole and the pillowcase covers the coat.

Cedar Over Mothballs

Mothballs smell like chemicals and the odor clings to fabric. Cedar blocks or cedar rings hung on the hanger repel moths naturally and leave a much more pleasant scent. Replace them when the cedar smell fades — usually every six months.

Location Matters

Do not store coats in a basement or attic. Both tend to have temperature and humidity swings that breed mildew. A cool, dry, dark closet on the main floor of your home is ideal. Leave space between garments so air can circulate. If your closet tends to be damp, toss a couple of silica gel packs or a small dehumidifier on the shelf.