Organizing Your Linen Closet

Keeping Things Fresh

Linens, like clothing, can become stagnant when they aren't frequently used. To keep your linens smelling fresh, place a box of baking soda or a lavender sachet on the shelf. Sachets are easy to buy or make from a scrap of fabric and ribbon, but the scent does wear out over time. "It's a good idea to take out everything and launder it periodically — six months to a year just to freshen it," says Peterson.

Wool items should be stored in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent damage from critters. Moth larvae — not moths — are the culprits for fabric disasters, and cedar is known to keep them at bay. But Kendall-Tackett recalls a cedar closet she had once: "The problem with cedar is that it loses its scent. I remember losing a whole bunch of sweaters one time. The moths had actually chewed an arm off a sweater."

"Probably one of the best deterrents is to simply put things away clean," says Kendall-Tackett.