What Clothes Should Not Be Folded in Ireland: Jackets That Need Extra Care

Anyone living in Ireland knows the importance of having the right jacket ready at a moment’s notice—sunshine and sideways rain can swap places in one afternoon. But if your jackets spend half their life squashed at the bottom of a drawer, they might not be looking their best when you most need them.

The thing is, not all jackets are created equal when it comes to storage. Heavy raincoats from Regatta, smart woollen blazers from Magee, or beloved GAA club windcheaters are built to do different jobs, but folding most of them is asking for trouble. Folded jackets often end up with deep creases, flattened collars, and warped shoulders. And good luck ironing a puffer jacket or a waterproof shell—you’ll do more harm than good.

Hanging jackets isn’t just about looking slick for a quick trip to SuperValu. Many Irish homes, especially older ones without giant walk-in wardrobes, need to get creative with small hall closets or hooks behind doors. If you’ve ever tried to shove a chunky winter parka into a drawer and ended up fighting with the zip next time it’s lashing rain outside, you’ll know a good hanger saves your sanity.

• Why Folding Jackets is a No-Go
• Jacket Types That Demand Hanging
• How Irish Weather Impacts Storage
• Practical Tips for Wardrobe Organisation

Why Folding Jackets is a No-Go

You’ll save yourself a lot of hassle down the road if you just stop folding your jackets. Folding often causes deep creases that won’t fall out easily, especially in thicker fabric. Puffer jackets can lose their shape, waterproof coatings on shells can crack, and even a standard blazer gets wonky shoulder lines that make you look like you slept in it. Irish dry cleaners like Johnson & Johnson in Cork regularly see jackets brought in simply because bad storage has turned them scruffy and tired-looking.

The jackets we all rely on for the school run, the pub, football matches, and the odd wedding out in the sticks just don’t fare well stuck in piles. When humidity’s high—and we don’t need to tell anyone in Ireland about damp—folded fabric traps moisture, which can lead to musty smells or even cause mould.

“We always recommend hanging jackets to keep their shape and lifespan. If you fold them, especially damp or lined ones, you’re speeding up their wear and can end up with impossible-to-remove creases,” says Orla Murphy of Saville Dry Cleaners, Dublin.

Here’s how folding vs hanging affects different types of jackets:

If you’re short on space (and let’s be honest, Irish houses rarely come with massive wardrobes), consider investing in sturdy over-door hooks or slim, padded hangers. This way you’re looking after your gear and saving some cash on replacements or dry cleaning down the road.

Jacket Types That Demand Hanging

Not every jacket in your closet needs to be hung up, but some should never, ever be folded if you want them to last. In Ireland, where jackets are often a daily necessity, knowing what belongs on a hanger is actually a small act of self-care (and it saves on the dry-cleaning bills too).

First off, heavy coats and rain jackets—think Barbour waxed jackets or North Face shells—should always be hung. Folding these can crush their shape or ruin their water resistance. If you’ve splashed out on a proper GAA jacket or even your child’s school blazer, treat it with respect: hang it up. Structured jackets, like wool blazers or tailored coats from well-known Irish brands such as Magee or Dunnes, lose their sharp look when they’re flattened in a drawer.

Down or puffer jackets, which are surprisingly common from Galway to Dublin, really suffer if folded for long periods. The insulation flattens out, and clumpy filling means cold spots the next time you need warmth on a drizzly morning. Leather jackets deserve special mention—leather creases last forever, and no one wants to look like they dug out something from a car boot sale unless they mean to.

Just to make it crystal clear, here’s a table showing which Irish-favourite jackets need hanging, and why:

The bottom line? If it has structure, shape, or fancy tech in the fabric, always choose a hanger over a fold. Irish homes can be short on space, so consider using slim, non-slip hangers to maximise what you’ve got.

• Keep heavier items on sturdy wooden hangers to stop sagging.
• Space hangers just enough so jackets aren’t squashed (even if the wardrobe’s bursting at the seams after a TK Maxx spree).
• Airing jackets every so often stops musty smells—handy advice if your cloakroom gets damp every winter.

Sticking to these tips means your jackets will always be ready for whatever Irish weather throws at you—minus those crumpled shoulders and sad collars.

How Irish Weather Impacts Storage

In Ireland, our weather is a bit of a legend—one minute it’s grand, the next you’re sprinting for cover. This makes storing jackets a totally different job compared to places with steady, dry seasons. Dampness is the main villain here, especially in older homes where insulation can be patchy.

If you shove your jackets in a cramped space, moisture getting trapped can lead to mildew, weird musty smells, and worse, mould patches on your favourite gear. This especially applies to heavy winter coats, padded jackets, and anything with down filling — basically any jacket meant to keep you dry and warm. These don’t just wrinkle; they actually absorb that ever-present Irish dampness right into their fibres.

Here’s why this matters: Irish homes, especially near the coast or in rainy counties like Galway or Kerry, consistently battle indoor humidity. Even new builds can suffer. According to Met Éireann, the average annual relative humidity across Ireland sits around 80% — that’s high. Combine that with our average 150 rainy days a year, and you’ve got a recipe for soggy jackets if you’re not careful.

So how do you stay ahead of the Irish elements? Here’s what actually keeps jackets fresh:

• Always air out jackets on a hanger after a wet day out. Pop them somewhere with good airflow—a utility room with a window is gold.
• Use moisture absorbers like silica gel or little dehumidifying tubs in your cloakroom or wardrobe. They’re cheap in Woodie’s or even Dealz.
• If a jacket gets soaked through, don’t just sling it on the banister. Shake off excess water and hang it somewhere warm but not right beside a radiator – that can damage delicate fabrics.
• Swap bulky jackets in and out of storage based on season—vacuum bags look handy but can squash fillings and make creasing worse, especially for padded or down jackets.

Focusing on this one jackets storage trick will save you money in the long run: quality hangers matter more than you’d think. Wide, shaped ones keep your carefully chosen layers ready for the next school run or walk on Dun Laoghaire pier, no matter what the weather throws at you.

Practical Tips for Wardrobe Organisation

Let’s get straight to sorting out that cluttered wardrobe. In Ireland, where space is tight and the weather is unpredictable, how you store your jackets can make a real difference. Dublin houses and country cottages alike tend to have smaller closets, so getting things organised saves time and keeps your nice jackets in shape.

• Invest in good hangers: Wire hangers from the dry cleaner will absolutely ruin the shoulders of your winter coats or tailored blazers. Go for wide, sturdy hangers—Woodies has decent options and you can get multi-packs online from Arnotts or IKEA. If you’re short on cash, even thick plastic hangers from Dunnes will do the job better than the skinny metal ones.
• Make a jacket zone: Dedicate a section of your wardrobe just for jackets and coats. In our place, we use the back corner closest to the door for quick access to raincoats on school runs—makes life grand when you’re dashing out after the kids, Cian or Saoirse always leave theirs on the floor otherwise. If you have a hall cupboard, install a second rail lower down for little ones’ jackets.
• Seasonal switch: Rotate out-of-season jackets. Put your heavy parkas and puffers in vacuum storage bags from Home Store + More during the summer, and stash lighter windbreakers in winter. It frees up space and means less rummaging when the forecast changes (which in Ireland means, basically, every day).
• Hang to dry before storing: Never tuck away a damp jacket—even for a second. Irish dampness is legendary for a reason. After a rainy walk around Lough Key or the Cliffs of Moher, hang your jackets on a sturdy hook near a radiator until fully dry. This kills off that musty smell and stops mould or mildew from setting in.
• Hooks and pegs are heroes: If you’re tight on space, put sturdy hooks behind bedroom or hall doors for the jackets you grab most often. Screw-in hooks from Woodies or Command strips work well and leave no marks.

If you find you’re still fighting for space, take a hard look at what you actually wear. Donate anything you haven’t touched in a year—Focus Ireland always welcomes good-condition jackets. Better organised, better mornings, less stress. That’s worth the effort!