What Clothes Should Not Be Folded in Ireland: Jackets That Need the Hanger

Ever pulled your best jacket from the wardrobe in Galway, only to find it crumpled or smelling a bit musty? Welcome to Ireland, where the weather throws every season at you in one day and your wardrobe needs to keep up. Most people here grab their jackets daily. Folding the wrong type can leave you with wrecked shapes, ugly creases, and even a bit of a pong.

So, here’s the first thing to know: not all jackets are made for folding—especially if you plan on wearing them at the next night out in Cork or heading to a wedding in Donegal. Suit jackets, blazers, and tailored wool coats actually need a hanger. If you fold these, you’ll end up with sagging shoulders and deep lines that refuse to budge, making even a new jacket look like a charity shop find. Rain jackets and puffers? Sometimes foldable, but even those do better hanging when the Irish damp hits.

• Irish Weather and Wardrobe Choices
• Which Jackets Shouldn't Be Folded
• Why Folding Ruins Certain Jackets
• Best Ways to Hang Jackets in Irish Homes
• Caring for Jackets in Small Spaces
• Local Irish Services and Clothes Care Tips

Irish Weather and Wardrobe Choices

In Ireland, the weather isn’t just a topic for small talk—it seriously messes with how you pick and store clothes. It rains here over 150 days a year, and even during July, you can get temps as low as 10°C, especially along the Atlantic coast. That’s why most folks always have a jacket handy, whether you’re living in Dublin, Limerick, or Sligo. You just can’t trust a blue sky to stay blue for long.

When it comes to jackets, you’ve got to think smart. With so much dampness in the air, folding certain types of jackets traps moisture, which can lead to musty smells or even mould. Ulster Bank’s 2024 poll found nearly 60% of Irish homes have no heated wardrobe space—which makes proper jacket storage even trickier. If your place isn’t blessed with a big wardrobe, those creases or that whiff from a stuffed-down jacket can really sneak up on you.

Here’s a quick look at how Ireland’s climate and lifestyle shape what ends up hanging or folded in local homes:

City/Region	Avg. Rainy Days/Year	Jacket Storage Habit
Galway	232	Wall hooks in entryways
Dublin	128	Small wardrobes, use hangers
Cork	151	Coat racks in hallways
Donegal	206	Utility rooms or airing cupboards

The right storage habit isn’t just about looks—hanging jackets, especially the structured ones, keeps them in shape and clear from the damp that’s hard to escape even indoors. The jackets Ireland crowd have figured out that nothing wears out a jacket faster than folding it and cramming it on a shelf in a humid corner. Hanging up is the move if you want your go-to outerwear to last past just one winter.

Which Jackets Shouldn't Be Folded

If you walk into a typical Irish hallway, you’ll spot a row of jackets on hooks—there’s good reason for that. Certain jackets really can’t handle being folded, especially with Ireland’s mix of wet, cold, and more wet. These are the main types you want to hang, not scrunch:

• Suit jackets and blazers: The structure in the shoulders and chest drops fast if folded, making them lose their sharp shape. Folded blazers especially look battered for job interviews or weddings in places like the Shelbourne or City Hall, Dublin.
• Wool overcoats and pea coats: Irish winter means heavy wool is a must, but folding crushes the fibres and the coat quickly starts to look tatty, plus compressed wool takes forever to air out after the rain.
• Leather jackets: These pick up deep creases and lines when folded. Good leather costs enough—no one wants to ruin it storing it wrong.
• Tweed jackets: Still popular at horse fairs in Ballinasloe or even daily wear out west. Tweed is stiff and heavy, and folding just doesn’t do it any favours.
• Heavily padded parkas: Once flattened, they can lose puffiness, trapping less heat when that Atlantic breeze rolls in.

On the flip-side, packable rain jackets and thinner, casual windbreakers are sometimes meant for folding (especially if you’re heading to a festival in Stradbally and need to pack light). Still, even they last longer if you hang them when you’re back home and not cramming them in a bag.

Here’s a quick look at how common jacket types in jackets Ireland wardrobes cope with folding:

Jacket Type	Fold OK?	Why/Why Not
Suit Jacket	No	Loses shape, gets deep creases
Wool Overcoat	No	Crushed fibres, slow to dry if damp
Leather Jacket	No	Permanently creases, cracks over time
Thick Parka	No	Loses insulation, looks flat
Tweed Jacket	No	Looks floppy, loses crispness
Packable Rain Jacket	Yes (Short Term)	Designed for short-term folding
Light Windbreaker	Yes (Short Term)	Okay for a while; still hang when possible

When in doubt, just think: if you’d hate to see it wrinkled on a big night out in Temple Bar, it probably needs the hanger, not the shelf.

Why Folding Ruins Certain Jackets

Folding jackets like blazers, tailored coats, or even some heavier rain jackets might seem handy, especially if you’re tight on space in a Dublin flat. But here’s the kicker: most of these pieces are built to hold their shape. When you fold them, you crush the padding in the shoulders and lines in the fabric, and over time, that can ruin the look and feel—you basically kill the nice structure you paid for.

A good suit or wool coat has lining, interfacing, and shaped seams that are designed to keep their fit. Fold these, and you often end up with a jacket that never sits right again. For a quick visual, check this out:

Jacket Type	Impact of Folding
Suits & Blazers	Creased lapels, crushed padding, permanent fold lines
Wool Coats	Loses shape, gets musty in damp air, hard-to-remove creases
Light Puffers	Flattened down, uneven insulation, struggles to "fluff up"
Waxed Jackets	Cracking in the wax, patchy waterproofing

The Irish climate has another curveball: humidity. Even inside, it’s easy for stored jackets to trap moisture, speeding up mildew growth and weird odours when they’re folded. And, while you might get away with stuffing a parka in your boot for a few hours, doing it all season is a recipe for disaster come the next pub crawl.

• Always hang your structured or formal jackets to keep the shape sharp.
• If space is tight, use slimline hangers or over-door racks (cheap from Tesco or IKEA in Ballymun).
• Never fold a wet or damp jacket—that’s asking for mildew.

Jackest Ireland is a key phrase to remember because Irish weather and social occasions make the right jacket choice critical, and caring for them right is just as important.

Long story short, folding might save you space but ends up costing you the lifespan—and the crisp look—of your jacket.

Best Ways to Hang Jackets in Irish Homes

Getting jacket storage right is a game changer in Ireland, where dampness and tight spaces are part of daily life. The jackets Ireland crowd knows—if you hang things wrong, you’ll get mould, stretched fabric, or jackets piled on chairs. Let’s keep it simple and practical.

First off, skip those flimsy wire hangers from the supermarket. They do more harm than good, especially with anything structured like suit jackets or heavy coats. Instead, pick wide, sturdy wooden hangers or thick plastic ones — Dunnes Stores and IKEA Ireland always have a decent range, and they won't break the bank.

• Keep space between jackets: At least a centimetre or two, so air can get around each jacket. It helps stop that musky, slightly damp smell every Irish household dreads in winter.
• Invest in moisture absorbers: If your wardrobe lives in a cold corner, especially in older stone homes, throw in a couple of silica gel packs or pick up dehumidifier bags from Woodie’s. They’re cheap and help stop mould from sneaking in.
• Button up or zip up: Before hanging, close all buttons and zips. This keeps the shape and stops jackets from sagging in odd places.
• Use the right length: Make sure the hanger fits the jacket shoulder to shoulder. Too small and you’ll get lumps; too big, and you’ll stretch the shoulders out.
• Hang heavier jackets on the lower rod: If your wardrobe has two rails, put things like wool coats or leather jackets on the bottom—they're less likely to warp if they’re closer to the ground and the rail can handle the weight.

For anyone renting or short on space (basically every student in Cork or Galway), over-the-door hooks or a good clothes rack from Argos can save the day. Don’t cram too many jackets in one spot. Spread them out—even hanging some on the back of a door is better than squashing them into a jammed wardrobe.

Recommended Hanger Types for Popular Jackets in Ireland

Jacket Type	Best Hanger	Popular Local Store
Suit Jacket/Blazer	Wide Wooden	Dunnes Stores
Rain Jacket	Thick Plastic	IKEA Ireland
Puffer	Padded or Thick Plastic	Argos
Leather Jacket	Broad Wooden	Woodie’s

Hang your jackets the right way, and you’ll dodge wrinkles, stink, and damage—plus, you’ll always look put together even when the weather’s anything but.

Caring for Jackets in Small Spaces

Living in an Irish apartment or sharing a flat in Dublin city centre? Space is tight, but that doesn’t mean your jackets have to suffer. The trick is knowing how to keep them in shape without hogging all the room.

The key is to use slimline hangers instead of chunky wooden ones, especially for tailored jackets or formal coats. You’ll double your hanging space and keep the shoulders supported. Look for hangers with velvet coating—these stop slippage, which is handy during damp Irish winters when heavier coats can fall and crease easily.

If your wardrobe is bursting, pop an over-door hanger on the back of your bedroom or bathroom door. It’s a decent spot to hang rain jackets after a cycle through Limerick or Galway drizzle. For anyone dealing with the famous Irish damp, silicon moisture absorbers (like the ones from Woodies or local hardware shops) inside your wardrobe will help prevent musty smells and mildew.

• Rotate jackets so none get squashed for ages at the back—every few weeks, bring the ones at the back forward.
• Hang jackets up as soon as you come in, especially if they’re a bit wet from the rain.
• If you’re really stuck for wardrobe space, invest in a clothes rail, even a collapsible one from Argos or IKEA. It can turn your hallway or spare corner into a functional mini-wardrobe.

Local dry cleaners, like Jeeves in Dublin or Maxwells in Cork, recommend airing out jackets every so often, even if you don’t wear them much. As one staff member from Jeeves says:

“Don’t shove a damp jacket in the back of the wardrobe. Hang it up, unzip it, and let it breathe for a few hours. You’ll save yourself a trip to us down the line.”

This might sound basic, but with Ireland’s weather, good habits mean your jackets Ireland style survives the long haul.

Local Irish Services and Clothes Care Tips

Anyone who’s lived through a wet Dublin winter knows how easily jackets start to smell musty or lose their shape if they’re jammed into a drawer. You’ll find plenty of local dry cleaners across Ireland that know how to treat jackets right. Household names like Jeeves in Ballsbridge or The Laundry Press in Cork handle all sorts of outerwear, from GAA blousons to fancy wedding blazers.

If your jacket’s been out in an Irish drizzle, toss it on a sturdy hanger to air-dry as soon as you get home. Don’t leave it balled up in your bag or car boot. Gareth O’Malley, manager at a well-known Galway dry cleaners, puts it plainly:

"Folding jackets at home is where most lads go wrong. You hang them up straight away, you won’t have to worry about wrinkles or those odd smells that creep in from damp halls."

Irish rental homes sometimes struggle with space and airflow, so keeping clothes dry matters. If you hang jackets in a tight space, invest in some dehumidifying packs—your local SuperValu or Dunnes usually stock them. Mold is a real menace here; over 60% of Irish homes report issues with damp or condensation during the autumn and winter, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). That’s why it pays off to keep your jackets well spaced on jackets Ireland approved hangers so air can flow freely.

Here’s a quick table showing handy storage tips and some reliable local services:

Tip/Service	Where to Find	Why It Helps
Professional Jacket Cleaning	Jeeves (Dublin), The Laundry Press (Cork)	Prevents fabric damage and keeps structure sharp
Dehumidifier Packs	SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, Argos	Reduces risk of mold and keeps jackets smelling fresh
Sturdy, Shaped Hangers	Penneys, IKEA, TK Maxx	Keeps shoulders and lapels crisp
Mobile Dry Cleaning Services	Laundryheap (Dublin), 5àsec (nationwide)	Convenient pick-up for busy schedules and saves time

If you’re storing jackets for the season, pop a few cedar wood balls into the wardrobe—they’re cheap at Home Store + More and help fend off moths without stinking the place out. Following these local, no-nonsense tricks will keep your jackets tidy, smart, and ready for whatever mad weather Ireland throws your way.