HOW TO STORE WINTER WORKWEAR FOR THE SUMMER

Summertime, and the living’s easy – for some. Maybe you’re still putting in long days and powering through your work outdoors. The need for tough, hardworking men and women never stops, even when it’s time to hang up the insulated coveralls for a few months. But one thing’s for sure: when that time comes, you can save yourself time and money by storing your gear the right way.

Insulated work jackets, overalls and coveralls from RefrigiWear are as tough as they come, but they still need to be cared for and stored correctly so they’ll be ready to go when winter weather returns.

Step 1: Clean Your Gear

Your gear will last longer and look better if you remove dirt, grime, oils and other stains before storing it. To clean your women's or men's cold weather gear, follow these tips:

First, check your pockets! Most RefrigiWear® garments have exterior and interior pockets, so check 'em all to make sure you don’t wash any valuable tools or electronics by mistake.

Next, wash your RefrigiWear® garment in a standard household washing machine using mild detergent. Wash the garment alone in warm water (less than 104°F).

Machine dry your garment for a maximum of 10 minutes on the lowest heat setting to restore insulation volume. Then hang the garment and let it fully air dry before storing it.

Though it's tempting to let someone else do the work, don't dry clean your RefrigiWear garments. Dry cleaning damages the structure of the garment, reduces water-repellency and shortens the garment's life.

You also might want to throw some deodorizers in with your clothes before storing them. Dryer sheets are great for this, and some folks swear by a couple of drops of essential oils. Be careful not to overdo it, though—you only want to use a very small amount.

Step 2: Choose the Right Storage

Where's the best place to store your RefrigiWear® gear? You'll want a place that is cool, clean, dry and dark.

Lots of people choose the attic or the basement for winter clothes storage. These can be good options, but make sure that they're actually as dry as you think they are and don't have hidden moisture problems. If you can't find a place that ticks all four of the boxes, it’s most important to have a place that's cool and dry, as well as being out of direct sunlight.

Step 3: Box Up Your Boots

A good pair of boots is never quite the same after spending a few months squished into an awkward position in a storage container. When you're storing work boots, keep them in a box where they won't be forced into an unnatural shape. For the best results, use a box that keeps out moisture and fits the fully extended boot. You can also try using boot shapers—simple devices that you stuff inside your boots before storing them to make sure that they keep their intended shape.

Step 4: Keep Critters Out

Moths aren't drawn to synthetic fabrics the way they're drawn to silk and wool, but it never hurts to be careful. And if you do have clothing with a wool lining, you'll definitely need to do some moth-proofing.

Mothballs aren't as widely used anymore—instead, go for some cedar or lavender, which will help you keep the little buggers away naturally, or try pheromone-based sticky traps if you have a serious moth problem.

Step 5: Use Vacuum Bags for Efficiency

If your home is super-tight on space, storing winter workwear can be even more of a challenge. One way to improve your storage capacity is to store your bulky gear in vacuum bags. However, make sure that you don-t draw the bag so tightly that it deforms the garment - this can lead to it changing its shape.

When it's time to say goodbye to your winter workwear for the summer, make sure you've set yourself up for success when it's time to get it back out again. Got more questions about how to keep your gear safe in storage? Contact RefrigiWear® - we're always happy to help!