Clothing and linen that goes into storage over a season, or for even longer, can develop an unpleasant odour if care is not taken to store properly. Apart from ensuring that you store clothes with the need to keep out moisture and insects (moths and silverfish) in mind, the addition of this lavender potpourri mixture will assist in both deterring moth damage and will keep clothing smelling fresh and clean.
Ingredients
- 10 cups lavender leaves and flowers
- 3 cups coarse rock salt
- 1 cup coriander seeds, crushed
- 1 cup cinnamon and nutmeg, mixed and crushed (use fresh nutmeg if possible)
- 1/2 - 1 tbsp (6 - 12.5ml) lavender oil
Step 1
Press the lavender flowers and leaves together firmly.
Step 2
Layer the lavender flowers and leaves with the rock salt in the large jar.
Step 3
Continue layering until all the ingredients are used up.
Step 4
Weight down the mixture with a large object such as a weight, a clean rock, a kitchen item etc. Put the mixture to one side and leave for 10 days.
Step 5
After 10 days, break up the mixture. Once broken up, add the spices and the lavender oil and mix well and leave in the jar.
Step 6
Allow this mixture to stand for 10 days. There is no need to weigh down the mixture this time.
Step 7
Divide the mixture into containers or sachets suitable for use in storage areas.
Step 8
Use the sachets and containers to aid your clothing and linen storage. Ideas for use include:
- Place sachets between blankets, sheets and mattress protectors in the linen cupboard.
- Place sachets between folded jumpers (sweaters) and between other folded clothing items.
- Small jars with holes poked in the lids can sit in drawer and at the base of chests and cupboards.
- Put sachets into the pockets of stored jackets and other hanging items with pockets. You might also consider hanging sachets around the wire hook of coat hangers.
Tips
- Lavender leaves and flowers should be collected on a fine, dry day when there is no risk of moisture.
- Refresh each mix with new drops of lavender oil every 4 - 6 months.
- Make sachets from muslin bags.
Warnings
- This potpourri should only be one means by which you tackle mustiness and insects that might attack stored fabrics. It is also very important to ensure that the storage space is free from mould, is not placed in a moist area and that the items are packed according to instructions relevant for the fabric in question.
Things You'll Need
- Large clean and dry glass jar
- Chopping board or clean surface and back of spoon or hand for pressing lavender and leaves together
- A weight (clean)
- Sachets (muslin or other fine cloth) and/or small jars (baby food jars are ideal, as are sample jam pots etc.)
