Would you pack things away dirty or clean?

[Housebashing]

Im going to put away my coats, cashmere etc, it needs dry cleaning
Before or when I get it out in winter please ?

I'd do it before, so any microscopic issues don't snowball!

After. Why have chemicals sitting on delicate and natural fibres in a sealed un-breathable “thing” for months? Do they need dry cleaning at all?

Before. Can you hand wash and put them out in the sun for a while before you pack them, as an alternative?

Before so they don't attract moths (which find biological deposits yummy)

@Tortephantgross! Body oils and sweat, odours, dirt whatever can break down fibres and attract moths and other bugs. Always pack away clean clothes in breathable storage bags after airing first. You should not vacuum pack natural fibres.

Person Sat next to me at a football match spat on my coat I’ve mopped it up as much as I can but hundred percent needs doing

OP asked about dry cleaning. That’s what I answered.
plenty of alternative ways to clean and store that I would do and recommend. That’s wasn’t the question.

Use clay then. Or soap. Not chemicals particularly if you want to store away

Moths are attracted to dirty cashmere so I I always wash mine first before packing in breathable storage bags with a moth sachet. Any stains on a cashmere mix coat I spot clean or steam to freshen it up. I very rarely dryclean as it's so toxic to the environment.

Is there a moth sachet that you recommend? I do have some wooden balls but I’m not convinced they’re doing anything useful.
Thank you

How would I use clay or soap to remove body fluids from my coat? I think it was the inside mainly so that’s not actually wool.
I could potentially steam it, but I am nervous. It’s the heat that does the damage.

Why would put it away without cleaning it then? Surely you have answered you own question

I wash everything in the washing machine. In summer all the coats go in so they dry in the sun and are fresh for winter.

I have a wool coat and it’s been through a wool wash a few times and it’s fine.

@Housebashing these Arcana ones on Amazon.
I replace mine twice annually as I have a lot of cashmere. Much of it several years old. The wooden balls are Sandalwood and they work but the protective scent eventually dissipates. I think you can try resanding them to reactivate the smell.

I use this for any “dry clean” item and the carpet and sofa

www.frenchsoaps.co.uk/products/terre-de-sommieres-stain-removing-clay-200g

I always hand wash cashmere, bag it and freeze. Never had moths. Anything else gets baked on the washing line before going away.

Jumpers can all be hand-washed and dried flat outside. Wool coats I would probably dry clean now. Some can probably be washed on a delicate cycle or handwashed though.