Spring is finally here.  It’s time to switch your closets from winter to spring wardrobes.   Proper handling and maintenance of your off-season garments is critical as it can extend the life of certain pieces by several years. Therefore, the wardrobe storage experts at Garde Robe created this introductory summary to help you.

• Always make sure garments are properly cleaned prior to storing them for an extended period of time.  Even if the garment looks clean, if it has been worn it may have bacteria and or body oils that will damage the fabric if left untreated for several months.  You should always remove your dry cleaner’s clear plastic bags immediately as these bags trap gasses that can cause discoloration and don’t allow the garment to breathe properly.

• Purchase and use the proper storage supplies.  Acid-free tissue, breathable garment bags and canvas boxes are inexpensive and vital to maintaining a garment’s pristine condition.  Boot trees and toe shapers for footwear and appropriate hangers are also highly recommended.

• Proper storage conditions and ventilation is essential.  Garments should not be subjected to dust, sunlight, humidity or drastic changes in temperature, so basements and attics are not recommended in most cases.  Proper spacing between garments must also be taken into account – never crowd garments into a small area in the back of the closet because they need to breathe.  Be extra cautious when storing leather and suede as these fabrics can bleed into one another – use acid-free tissue to separate these garments.  Never store furs at home as they must be stored in special cold storage units.  Always use a reputable furrier and have the fur revitalized as needed.

• Fold all knits with acid-free tissue to avoid creasing the individual fibers and place them in a breathable box with the heaviest ones on the bottom.  Material damaging insects such as moths will be attracted to cashmere and other natural fibers, especially if bacteria are present.  Placing cedar and lavender sachets in the boxes works as a deterrent and is far more pleasant than moth balls.  However, the sachets often contain oils so be cautious to avoid direct contact between the sachets and garments.  Heavily beaded garments should also be folded with tissue and not hung in most cases.

• Hanging garments require proper hangers and breathable garment bags.  Hanger selection should take into account the type of garment and its weight.  Heavy garments such as winter coats should be stored on strong, padded hangers.  In most cases, pants and slacks should be hung from the hem or cuffs to avoid creasing.  Take advantage of a garment’s support straps or loops to avoid stretching.

Named “Best Secret Service” by New York magazine, Garde Robe is the first and only luxury wardrobe storage and valet service.  Ideal for city residents with extensive clothing and footwear collections and/or inadequate closet space, Garde Robe provides climate-controlled luxury storage for off-season or infrequently worn clothing, shoes and accessories, professional photography and online wardrobe catalogs, complimentary same-day pick up and delivery, luggage-packing and shipping services, and more.

www.garderobeonline.com – (212) 255-3163

With all the wrapping paper left behind after holiday gifts have been opened, now is the perfect time to practice the three Rs of producing less waste – reduce, reuse and recycle. Instead of shoving it all into garbage bags and dumping it, here are some creative ways to reuse and recycle it and reduce your eco-footprint at the same time.

NOTE: To remove wrinkles, carefully iron the paper on the “wrong” side using LOW heat – spritz with a little water, if necessary. Remember to first remove any tape and smooth the paper out on a flat surface using your hands. Cut off any torn edges so you’re left with a square or rectangular piece.

• Crumple it up and stuff it in hats or purses to help them keep their shape.
• Wrap it around a bouquet of flowers you’re taking to someone special.
• Shred it to use as ‘fluff’ or pretty packing material in gift bags/boxes for future gifts.
• Shred and use it in place of bubble wrap or styrofoam packing peanuts.
• Cover a corkboard with it and hang it up for a festive, decorative place to leave messages and to-do lists.
• Go online and learn how to make origami shapes and animals with it!
• Cut a piece to size and slide it in the clear, front sleeve of a three-ring binder to create a decorative look.
• Cut it into small pieces and leave them by the telephone. Use the white side to write down messages.
• Measure your drawers, cabinets and closets. Cut the paper to fit and insert for simple, pretty shelf paper and draw liners.
• If it isn’t torn or too wrinkled, keep it to wrap future presents. Reuse paper taken from large gifts to wrap smaller gifts.

• Use it to decoupage pieces of furniture or flower pots or cardboard or wooden shapes to make decorations or ornaments for next year.

• Cover your kids’ textbooks – if you haven’t already – or recover if the old ones look like they’ve seen better days.
• Use it to make gift tags.
• Place a favorite piece underneath a sheet of glass on your desk, nightstand or coffee table to add color/pattern to the room.
• Mat photographs with it.
• Glue it onto a sturdy box for reusable gift packaging.
• Use small scraps to line greeting card envelopes. Trace the outside flap shape onto the paper and cut out. Leave it just short enough to clear the glue seal on the envelope flap.
• Use it for kids art projects, i.e. make paper dolls and dolls’ clothes.
• Make decorative snowflakes to hang up or to attach to blank cards to create this year’s thank you notes and next year’s holiday greetings.
• Make a collage out of various pieces and create new, unique wrapping paper.
• Frame your favorite pieces, hang them up and enjoy!
• Use it to wrap and protect your holiday decorations when storing them away for next year.
• Cover paper magazine or pencil holders with it.
• Use it for scrapbooking backgrounds.
• Use large pieces of it to cover shoeboxes and create pretty storage containers for Christmas ornaments and other items.
• Use it in paper mache projects.
• Cover small gift boxes with it.
• Make bookmarks out of it.
• Use it to make sewing patterns. Just draw the pattern pieces on the blank side and cut out.
• Add pattern and color to your office by covering a few select books on your bookshelves with it.
• Use it to line your cat’s litter box. It’s better than tossing it out!

Did you know that 90% of homeless adults need a new, warm coat each winter because they have no place to keep one during the warmer months of the year? In addition, thousands of other New Yorkers are forced to choose between buying a winter coat and putting food on the table or meeting other basic survival needs. No one should have to make that kind of choice.

New York Cares helps those less fortunate by collecting nearly 70,000 gently used winter coats each December and distributing them to thousands of men, women and children who would otherwise be cold. Please donate a coat, host a coat collection or make a financial donation to this very worthy charity. Your support provides them with the resources to collect and distribute coats now and supports volunteer programs that will continue to impact the city all year long.

Bricks & mortar and online stores are both hoping you’ll spend more than you meant to and they’re expert at making it easy for you to do just that. BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING, make a list of what you need to buy and stick to it. Watch out for the following traps:

* Free gift with purchase. If you’re spending more than you had intended just to get a “free” gift, then it’s really not so free after all, is it? Think about it.

* Free shipping. Ditto.

* It’s on sale. If you didn’t plan to buy it in the first place, it doesn’t matter what the price is, it’s not a bargain! Stop clutter where it starts…at the store!

* Bigger is better. Not if you really don’t need it in the jumbo size! And not if it takes you two years to go through a package of twelve and you really can’t afford to spare the space for them for that long!

* If one is good, two is better. Don’t buy an item in every color unless you really will use them all!

Summer’s barely over and Halloween is still weeks away, but the folks at Hallmark.com are hoping that you’ll start thinking about your holiday cards now. You can chose a card and then personalize it by adding your own photos or message, if you like. Upload your address book to the site and they’ll even print, stamp and mail your cards for you at whatever future date you chose. Or, if you prefer, they’ll mail them to you already stamped, addressed and ready to send out. It’s easy, it’s fast and if you do it now you can check it off your holiday to-do list! Save 30% when you spend $30 or more on your order; just use promo code OCT30 at checkout. Offer expires 10/25/09.