Stored well, a baby alpaca throw will outlast the furniture it sits on. Stored badly, it can be ruined in a single summer by moths or mildew. The method is simple, and it comes down to three things: clean it first, give it air, and keep moths out without chemicals.
Here is how to put a throw away for the warm months so it returns in autumn exactly as you left it.
Clean it before you store it
This is the step people skip, and it is the one that matters most. Moths are not drawn to clean alpaca. They are drawn to the traces left on it, body oils, skin, the residue of a season of use. A throw put away dirty is an invitation. Wash it gently or air it thoroughly first. The full method is in the care guide.
Let it breathe, never seal it in plastic
Natural fiber needs to exchange air. Sealed in a plastic bin or a vacuum bag, any trapped moisture has nowhere to go, and mildew follows. Store the throw in a breathable cotton bag, an old pillowcase, or a cotton sheet folded around it. The goal is protection from dust with airflow intact.
Keep moths out without mothballs
Mothballs work, but they leave a smell that lingers in fiber for months, and they are unpleasant to live with. Cedar and dried lavender do the same job without the residue. A few cedar blocks or a sachet of lavender in the bag deters moths and leaves the throw smelling clean. Refresh cedar by sanding it lightly once a year, as the scent fades over time.
Fold, do not hang
Hanging stretches the weave over months and can leave a permanent shoulder in the fabric. Fold the throw loosely, with as few hard creases as possible, and store it flat or gently rolled. Keep heavy items off the top.
Where to keep it
Cool, dark, and dry. Heat and light degrade natural fiber over time, and damp invites mildew. A closet shelf away from exterior walls is ideal. Avoid basements and attics, which swing between extremes of temperature and humidity.
Treated this way, the throw is not really being stored. It is resting. The collection, if you are still choosing yours, is here.
