Laundry and dry clean
Laundry and dry clean
August is the last full month of a Sydney winter, and by late in the month the afternoons start hinting at spring. It is the ideal window to plan winter coat storage in Sydney — packing away the coats, wool jackets and heavy layers you have leaned on since May. Stored properly, they come out next year looking as good as they went in.
Most garment damage that appears out of nowhere the following autumn actually happened in storage: moth holes, yellowed collars, set-in body oils and that unmistakable musty smell. Fortunately, all of it is preventable with a short, deliberate routine.
The most important rule of seasonal storage is simple: clean everything before it goes away, even if it looks fine. Winter coats absorb a full season of invisible grime — skin oils around the collar and cuffs, perfume and deodorant residue, food splashes and airborne dust from heaters. Over months in a dark cupboard, those residues oxidise into stubborn yellow marks. Worse, body oils are exactly what clothes moths and silverfish look for. A jumper that smells faintly of a person is a meal; a freshly cleaned one is not.
For structured wool coats, tailored jackets and anything labelled dry clean only, this is where a professional dry cleaning service earns its place. Solvent cleaning lifts the oil-based soiling that home washing leaves behind, and proper pressing means the coat is stored in shape rather than creased. It is a small outlay against replacing a coat that yellows or gets moth-eaten over summer.
Sydney humidity is the enemy of stored natural fibres. Make sure everything is completely dry before storing — even slightly damp fibres invite trouble. Add cedar blocks or lavender sachets rather than mothballs, which leave a chemical odour in fabric. Additionally, if you have found spots on stored clothes before, our guide to rescuing mould on clothes walks through recovery — though prevention is far easier than the cure.
Leather and suede jackets need air circulation — never seal them in plastic or store them somewhere cold and damp, where they stiffen or grow mildew. Stuff sleeves lightly with acid-free tissue and have them cleaned and conditioned first. Down jackets must be completely dry and stored uncompressed so the fill keeps its loft. For the full wardrobe-wide routine, see our guide to storing winter clothes.
The easiest version: send the coats, jackets and knits for cleaning in one collection as they finish their season. Everything comes back pressed, fully dry and ready to store correctly — no laundromat trips, and nothing put away dirty.
Yes — always. Invisible body oils and residues oxidise into stains and attract moths over summer. A clean, pressed coat stores safely and comes out ready to wear.
No — sealed plastic traps humidity and can cause mould in Sydney conditions. Use breathable cotton or canvas garment bags instead.
Folded flat in breathable boxes, never hung — hanging stretches the shoulders. Cedar or lavender nearby deters moths.
Yes — book a pickup and send coats, jackets and knits in one collection. Everything returns cleaned, pressed and ready to pack away.
WashMate collects your winter coats and jackets, cleans and presses each piece to its fabric, and returns everything ready for safe storage — standard turnaround is 3–5 business days. Email info@washmate.com.au for a free quote in under two minutes, or book a pickup online. Pickup and delivery is available across Sydney metro from $15 per order.
Follow @washmate.sydney on Instagram for before-and-after transformations and seasonal care tips.
Tap below to book your pickup online, or send us a quick email and we will come back with a free, no-obligation quote.
