Organize + Energize: The Harmful Effects of Dry Cleaning Bags

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Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalPDX Organizing Expert

What happens to your clothes when you bring them back from the dry cleaners? Do you take them out of the plastic bags and hang them on your hangers or do you keep them hanging on the wire hangers in the plastic until the next time you have to wear them?

Many of my clients insist on keeping their clothes in dry cleaner plastic bags. Some of these outfits have been in the bags for months, even years. It’s ok if you want to protect them, but there are better ways to store them than in these bags. 

What happens to your clothes in these bags? 

You’re going to ruin your clothes if you continue to store them in these bags. The plastic bags cause oxidation which leads to discoloration of the clothes. The bags cause yellowing and weakening of the fibers. Have you ever noticed that your white clothes turn yellow when stored in these bags? Clothes need to breathe and they can’t breathe in a plastic bag. Continue to leave them in these bags and they’ll start to smell. 

Have you noticed random holes in your clothes that weren’t there before? The damp environment in the bag will be a breeding ground for moths, which will eat through your clothes. While you’re getting rid of the bags, please get rid of the wire hangers. They will rust and ruin your clothes, not to mention that the clothes don’t sit well on these hangers. 

The solution.

If you need to store your clothes in garment bags, use cotton ones that allow your clothes to breathe. While you’re replacing these bags, this is a good time to take inventory of what’s in them. How long have these clothes been in these bags? Give the clothes a once over to check for discoloration, odor, and holes. When was the last time you wore them? Are you ever going to where these clothes again? It may be time to let them go. 

Once you get rid of the wire hangers, you have to make a decision about what kind of hangers you’d like to use. There are many different options out there. Bed Bath & Beyond has an entire wall dedicated to hangers. Choose ones that will fit the space you have in your closet. Don’t choose a bulky hanger if you’re short on space. Be consistent and choose all of the same style hangers.

It’s a decision you have to make whether or not you want to continue to use these bags and hangers. If you want to extend the life of your clothes, there are many other storage options available to you. Do the research and find the products that work well in your closet. 

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner.

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