Tips for Closet Organizing


How to Organize Your Closets


Just about everyone needs to organize their closet at some time or another. If you are the one that has to take on this de-cluttering task in your home, there are plenty of ways to do it easily, without worry that it will consume your day. Just about everyone has a closet that is packed full.



Some may even be afraid to open the closet door in case the pile of clutter will collapse!

Your goal is to work through each one of these closets in your home, without looking back or getting discouraged, and thoroughly de-clutter them.

Sure, this is not an easy task but the benefits are numerous nonetheless- A clean and de-cluttered, organized closet!

Start With One Closet


Start with one closet, just one.Take a day for each closet so that you do not get overwhelmed with your organizing project.

The more that you have to do; the easier it is to get overwhelmed. So it's better to take one day at a time, and tackle the project one closet at a time.

You should plan a specific day to work on the closet. Dedicate at least a couple of hours to work on it.

Evaluate All Your Closet Space and Get the Supplies You Need


First, evaluate your entire home for closet space and any other storage space, keeping an eye out for any unused space, like under the beds, etc. Identify possible new areas to utilize.

On a notebook, make a list and designate what the main purpose is for each closet, for example, bathroom linens and supplies.

Make a list of items that you will need to purchase to help you get organized, and remember that you can get as creative as you like.
  • Hangars
  • 1 foot x 1 foot crates (they are perfect for kids toys, shoes and serve as a catch-all until you've collected all the like items)
  • Tie racks
  • Metal baskets
  • Hooks
  • Hanging racks
  • Shelf paper
  • Plastic containers with lids for storage

Once you've done that, the rest is standard for each closet, no matter what's inside.

Organize Your Closets Using the 5 Stack Method


Start with a closet that is less cluttered, one that you know you can handle on your first day out.

Then, start by taking everything out of the closet and organize it in the following stacks:
  1. Trash: broken or useless products go in the trash. No questions!
  2. 2 years rule: if you haven't used it in 2 years, toss it out. You can give away things that are in good repair or get rid of it through trash.
  3. Needs washing: clothing, blankets, anything that you would use if it was clean.
  4. Things that belong somewhere else: If you are cleaning out the linen closet and find a shoe, place it in a pile that you will put away later.
  5. Items that belong in the closet: This pile should be considerably less when you are done.

Start at the top and work your way down. Take everything out (except hanging clothes, those you will sort according to type - shirts, pants, stuff to donate etc.) and wipe down the shelves.

Put all of the items into the piles that match according to our list. One pile for each type of item in trash, giving away, cleaning, put someplace else and those that will go back into the closet.

Store Your Clutter


Now is the time to be thinking about how to regroup and store your closet clutter in a better way.

Hopefully you've gotten rid of the items you no longer use. Possibly by adding a hanging shelf, or hooks to the wall you can now display items you forgot you had. If you find a surplus of items that are rarely used, put them in plastic boxes that stack or slide it under the bed.

You may have all your spices and condiments on a shelf in the pantry, but by adding a spice rack to the door or wall, you've freed up that complete shelf. Be creative. Paint the shelves, or use contact paper if you like. Condense items and put them in baskets so they can be found easily.

When the closet has been re-filled, use large garbage bags for the trash and things to give away that you haven't used in two years. Put all miscellaneous items where it belongs. Now you can move on to the next until all your closets are de-cluttered and renovated.

 Closet organizing will not only save you time, but it will save you a lot of stress and aggravation too. We hope these tips have helped!

Image location: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazzali/2510532109/

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