Susannah Frankel: 'When I pack my winter wardrobe away, military precision is called for'

Ever since my mother reached into the pocket of a cashmere dressing gown and found it to be replete with tiny, wriggling, soon-to-be moths I have been neurotic about these apparently innocuous creatures. There have been fatalities: a fine-gauge Lanvin cardigan with crystal buttons was unceremoniously consumed by them; a Rick Owens scarf was so woolly they had their fill without too obvious a fall-out: I dry-cleaned and still wear it.

And so, every spring, when I pack my winter wardrobe away, nothing less than military precision is called for. Here follows my time-honoured procedure.

First I spray the trunk I store all things warm and cosy in with Nicolai La Route Du Cedre (pnicolai.com). That done, said receptacle is duly lined with Total Wardrobe Care Scented Liners (totalwardrobecare.co.uk; £25 for two) safe in the knowledge that if the cedar doesn't get to any airborne clothing wreckers the lavender, patchouli, laurel, rosemary, clove and thyme these fine sheets are impregnated with most certainly will.

I keep garment bags and put all large items into them. Before I close them, I throw in Himalaya Lavender Anti-Moth Sachets (johnlewis.com; £3 for five) and Bouchard Anti-Moth Proofer (johnlewis.com; £3.95). Date any sachets; they will need to be changed.

Smaller sweaters, scarves and so forth are lovingly packed into individual moth-proof bags (johnlewis.com again; £7 for six). I lie these on top once my trunk is full and then – the disdain of the residents of chez Frankel – finish with another hefty spray of the Nicolai. Moths hate it. And so does my family. Even my dog coughs and splutters. But it's a small price to pay for a moth-free existence.

Susannah Frankel is Fashion Editor of 'The Independent'

s.frankel@independent.co.uk