Summer Storage · Winter Clothes · Kolkata
Summer clothes
storage guide.
How to pack and store winter clothes before India’s summer. Wool suits, pashmina, silk sarees and leather — what to do before they go away for 8 months through Kolkata’s heat and monsoon.
In Kolkata, winter clothes are stored from February through October — 8 months through summer heat above 40°C and monsoon humidity above 85%. The most demanding storage condition in India.
The Swiss Laundry · Kasba, Kolkata · Est. 2013When to pack winter clothes in Kolkata
When to stop wearing: When daytime temperatures consistently exceed 28–30°C — typically mid-February to early March.
When to pack properly: Within two weeks of last wearing each garment. Do not leave winter clothes hanging unworn and unwashed from February to November — this is the most common cause of accumulated damage.
Why timing matters: April and May are Kolkata’s hottest months. High temperature accelerates the oxidation of sweat and body oil residue on stored fabrics, causing yellowing. A garment packed in February with light sweat residue will yellow significantly less than the same garment packed in May.
Cleaning before storage — the non-negotiable step
Every garment stored for summer must be cleaned first. This is the single most impactful thing you can do for the long-term preservation of your winter wardrobe.
Why it matters: Sweat, body oil, food residue and perfume on stored fabrics cause three types of damage over 8 months: they oxidise causing permanent yellowing; they attract clothes moths; they weaken the fibre structure in areas of heaviest contamination.
What needs dry cleaning: All wool suits and blazers, silk sarees, pashmina and cashmere shawls, structured sherwanis and occasion wear, velvet garments, anything with metallic embroidery.
What can be washed at home: Plain cotton kurtas and shirts, synthetic fleece and sportswear, cotton bed linen.
Storage method by garment type
Never fold a structured suit. Dry clean. Hang on a wide padded hanger. Breathable cotton garment bag. Cedar blocks in the wardrobe. Silica gel during monsoon.
Never hang knitwear for long storage — it stretches permanently. Fold flat and stack. Wrap in muslin. Cedar or neem nearby.
Do not hang. Dry clean. Fold with acid-free tissue between layers. Wrap in muslin. Store flat. Silica gel during monsoon — pashmina is particularly moisture-sensitive.
Dry clean. Acid-free tissue against zari. Undyed cotton muslin wrapping. Store flat. Vary fold lines from previous year. Silica gel during monsoon.
Condition before storing — conditioned leather survives a Kolkata summer significantly better. Breathable bag. Stuff with tissue to hold shape. Silica gel inside bag during monsoon.
Ensure completely dry before storing. Roll loosely in muslin with cedar or neem. A damp blanket develops mould within days in Kolkata summer humidity.
Preparing for the monsoon
Packing in February is the first step. The second — often overlooked — is preparing stored clothes for the monsoon arrival in June.
Before June: Add silica gel desiccant packets to all storage boxes and garment bags containing natural fibre garments. Check that storage locations are not near damp walls. Ensure wardrobes have air circulation.
Silica gel management: Packets are depleted over weeks. Replace monthly during June–September. Rechargeable silica gel (bake at 120°C for 2 hours) regenerates absorption and can be reused indefinitely.
The mid-monsoon check: In July, bring stored fine garments out. Air in a ventilated indoor space for a full day. Look for mould spots (grey-white surface marks), moth damage (small irregular holes), yellowing at collar and underarm areas. Address any issue immediately — it is fully treatable at this stage. Left until October, the same issues may be permanent.
Every October at The Swiss Laundry, garments arrive damaged during storage — wool suits with moth holes, silk sarees with yellowed collars, pashmina with mould spots. In almost every case, the damage was preventable with cleaning before storage and silica gel during the monsoon.
Bringing clothes out of summer storage
When: October or November when daytime temperatures drop below 25°C consistently. The post-monsoon period is still humid — air stored garments for 24 hours before wearing or pressing.
Air before wearing: Hang every garment in a well-ventilated area for at least 24 hours. The storage environment, however well managed, leaves a background smell that dissipates with airing.
Inspect carefully: Check for moth damage, mould spots, yellowing and missed staining. Address any issue before wearing.
Dry clean before wearing if: Stored for more than 6 months. Storage conditions were uncertain. Any odour is present, even faint. The garment will be worn to an important occasion. Fine occasion wear — silk sarees, wool suits, structured blazers — benefits from a dry clean and press after the storage period to restore drape and finish.
Book a pickup for returning winter garments: call 9836233354, WhatsApp us, or use the app. Doorstep pickup across 30+ areas in Kolkata on invoices above ₹1,000.
Common questions
Questions.
Answered.
Dry clean or wash all winter clothes first. Wrap woollens in cotton muslin, not plastic. Cedar or neem for moths. Cool, dark, dry storage. Add silica gel desiccant before the monsoon arrives in June.
February to early March. Pack within two weeks of last wearing each garment. Do not leave winter clothes hanging unwashed from March to November.
Dry clean first. Hang on a wide padded hanger — never fold. Breathable cotton garment bag. Away from sunlight. Cedar for moths. Silica gel during the monsoon.
In July, bring stored fine garments out and air indoors for a full day. Check for early mould, moth damage or yellowing. Any issue found in July is fully treatable. The same issue in October may be permanent.
October or November when temperatures drop consistently below 25°C. Air in a ventilated space for 24 hours before wearing. Inspect for damage. Dry clean fine garments before wearing if stored for 6+ months.
Clean before
you store.
Dry cleaning before summer storage. Doorstep pickup across 30+ areas in Kolkata.