Closet Seasonal Rotation Calendar
Pick your climate and get a calendar for the year: which month to swap, the temperature to wait for, what to bring out and what to wash and store.
Your closet rotation calendar
| When | Switch once | Bring out | Wash and store |
|---|---|---|---|
| April Winter out, spring in | Daytime highs stay above 60 °F (16 °C) for about two weeks | Light jackets, Long-sleeved shirts, Lighter trousers, Sneakers and loafers | Heavy coats and parkas, Thick wool sweaters, Snow boots, Thermal underwear, Scarves, hats and gloves |
| June Full summer wardrobe | Daytime highs stay above 75 °F (24 °C) for about two weeks | Shorts and skirts, T-shirts and linen, Sandals, Swimwear, Sun hats | Mid-weight sweaters, Lined trousers, Rain boots, unless your summers are wet |
| September Summer out, fall in | Daytime highs stay below 70 °F (21 °C) for about two weeks | Sweaters and cardigans, Light jackets, Jeans and heavier trousers, Closed shoes | Swimwear, Sandals, Shorts, Linen and other very light pieces |
| November Full winter wardrobe | Daytime highs stay below 50 °F (10 °C) for about two weeks | Heavy coats, Thick wool sweaters, Boots, Thermal underwear, Scarves, hats and gloves | Light jackets, Thin cotton shirts you will not layer |
Closet rotation calendar by climate
The tables show the calendar for the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, add six months to every step.
| When | Switch once | Bring out | Wash and store |
|---|---|---|---|
| April: winter out, spring in | Daytime highs stay above 60 °F (16 °C) for about two weeks | Light jackets, Long-sleeved shirts, Lighter trousers, Sneakers and loafers | Heavy coats and parkas, Thick wool sweaters, Snow boots, Thermal underwear, Scarves, hats and gloves |
| June: full summer wardrobe | Daytime highs stay above 75 °F (24 °C) for about two weeks | Shorts and skirts, T-shirts and linen, Sandals, Swimwear, Sun hats | Mid-weight sweaters, Lined trousers, Rain boots, unless your summers are wet |
| September: summer out, fall in | Daytime highs stay below 70 °F (21 °C) for about two weeks | Sweaters and cardigans, Light jackets, Jeans and heavier trousers, Closed shoes | Swimwear, Sandals, Shorts, Linen and other very light pieces |
| November: full winter wardrobe | Daytime highs stay below 50 °F (10 °C) for about two weeks | Heavy coats, Thick wool sweaters, Boots, Thermal underwear, Scarves, hats and gloves | Light jackets, Thin cotton shirts you will not layer |
| When | Switch once | Bring out | Wash and store |
|---|---|---|---|
| April: lighter layers | Daytime highs stay above 68 °F (20 °C) for about two weeks | T-shirts, Light trousers and skirts, Sandals, A light jacket for the evening | The warmest coat, Thick sweaters, Lined boots |
| November: warmer layers | Daytime highs stay below 62 °F (17 °C) for about two weeks | Sweaters, A warm coat, Rain jacket, Closed shoes and boots | Shorts, Sandals, Swimwear |
| When | Switch once | Bring out | Wash and store |
|---|---|---|---|
| March: hot season | Daytime highs stay above 80 °F (27 °C) for about two weeks | Shorts, Linen and loose cotton, Sandals, Swimwear, Sun hats | Sweaters, Jackets, Long trousers you only wear when it is cool |
| November: cool season | Daytime highs stay below 75 °F (24 °C) for about two weeks | Long sleeves, A light sweater, A light jacket, Long trousers | Nothing has to go: keep summer clothes within reach |
| When | Switch once | Bring out | Wash and store |
|---|---|---|---|
| May: winter out, spring in | Daytime highs stay above 55 °F (13 °C) for about two weeks | Light jackets, Long-sleeved shirts, Lighter trousers, Sneakers | The heaviest parka, Snow trousers and snow boots, Thermal underwear |
| July: short summer | Daytime highs stay above 70 °F (21 °C) for about two weeks | T-shirts, Shorts, Sandals, Swimwear | Thick sweaters, but keep one out for cool evenings |
| September: summer out, fall in | Daytime highs stay below 60 °F (16 °C) for about two weeks | Sweaters, Warm jackets, Boots, Hats and gloves | Shorts, Sandals, Swimwear |
| October: full winter wardrobe | Daytime highs stay below 45 °F (7 °C) for about two weeks | The heaviest parka, Snow boots, Thermal underwear, Thick wool sweaters | Light jackets, Thin shirts you will not layer |
Go by the thermometer, not by the date
The month tells you when to start paying attention. The temperature tells you when to act. Wait until daytime highs have stayed on the right side of the trigger for about two weeks. One warm week in March does not mean winter is over, and a coat that is already boxed up is a coat you will not wear.
The triggers are rules of thumb. If you get cold easily, the calendar moves each one up by 5 °F, so you switch to light clothes later and to warm clothes sooner. If you run warm, it moves them down by 5 °F.
Before you store clothes
- Wash or dry-clean everything, even pieces worn once. Fabric with stains from food or sweat is more likely to be damaged by clothes moths than clean fabric.
- Use a hot wash where the label allows it. 20 to 30 minutes in water of at least 120 °F (49 °C) kills moths in every stage. Dry cleaning does the same for wool that cannot take hot water.
- Let everything dry completely. Fabric that goes into a box damp can come out with mildew.
- Put wool, cashmere and fur into airtight containers. Clothes moths feed on wool and fur. They go for cotton and synthetic blends too, as long as there is wool in them.
- Do not rely on cedar. Its oil only kills small larvae, and the wood loses the effect after several years.
- Mothballs only work in a sealed container, where the vapour can build up. They leave a smell in the clothes.
- Freeze anything you suspect. A piece with holes or webbing goes into a plastic bag and into the freezer for several days at below 18 °F (−8 °C).
What stays out all year
Not everything has to move. These pieces earn their place in every season, so keep them within reach:
- Underwear, socks and sleepwear
- Plain T-shirts and tops you layer under other things
- Jeans and the trousers you wear most
- One light sweater or cardigan
- A rain jacket
- Whatever you wear for sport
Closet Seasonal Rotation Calendar: Questions and Answers
- When should I switch my closet from winter to summer clothes?In a climate with four seasons, pack away heavy winter gear in April, once daytime highs stay above 60 °F (16 °C) for about two weeks. Bring out the full summer wardrobe in June, once highs stay above 75 °F (24 °C). Other climates switch at other times; the calendar above shows them.
- When should I bring out my winter clothes?In a climate with four seasons, bring back sweaters and jackets in September, once highs stay below 70 °F (21 °C), and heavy coats and boots in November, once highs stay below 50 °F (10 °C).
- How often should I rotate my closet?Twice a year is enough where the weather is mild or hot most of the year. Where summers and winters differ a lot, four smaller steps work better than two big ones, because spring and fall need their own layers.
- Do I have to wash clothes before I store them?Yes, also pieces worn only once. Stains from food and sweat make fabric more attractive to clothes moths, and a wash of 20 to 30 minutes in water of at least 120 °F (49 °C) kills moths in every stage. Dry-clean wool that cannot take hot water.
- Do cedar blocks protect stored clothes from moths?Only a little. The oil in aromatic red cedar can kill small moth larvae but not large ones, and the wood loses the effect after several years. Clean clothes in an airtight container are the more reliable protection.
- Does the calendar work in the Southern Hemisphere?Yes. Choose Southern under Hemisphere and every step moves by six months.
Sources
- D.-H. Choe: Pest Notes – Clothes Moths (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 7435) – what attracts clothes moths, washing and freezing temperatures, airtight storage, cedar and mothballs
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