How to Clean Out Your Closet
How to clean out your closet.
This article was inspired by my client Bobby who could have won a world record for the messiest closet ever.
Before cleaning out your closets there are a few things you should know when you start.
1. Always start the process in the morning, giving you more time to complete the task. Nothing is worse than a mountain of clothes on your bed, when its time to go to sleep.
2. Have on hand large extra strong garbage bags, masking tape for labeling, proper hangers and midsize totes for storage. If you have a single hanging bar only, consider getting a closet organizer to maximize space. I usually recommend double a hanging bar on one side, shelves down the center and a full-length hanging bar on the other side. (Approximate cost $50.00 and easy to install).
3. Get rid of obstacles that are in front of the closet.
4. If you have sliding doors that are cumbersome, remove them temporally or replace with a sliding curtain.
Now here’s what ya gotta do!
5. Deal with the items on the bottom and top of closet first. Sort then group in to broad categories in separate piles on the bed or floor. Some categories might not even make back into the closet for example, sewing, dry cleaning, crafts, returns, pictures, repair, and keepsake.
6. Have a systematic approach in deciding what you should actually keep. Think about if that stain will ever come out of a garment? Will you ever be a size 5 again and if you are will you wear that old thing? Yes the shoes were very expensive but they always hurt your feet? Dated? Too Short? Too tight? Always hated that colour. Never fit you right. If you are unsure try it on and see what you think.
7. Completely empty everything from the closet and sort into appropriate piles. If you are doing it right at this stage your room will look like a cyclone went through it. Have no fear the hard part is done.
8. Place bags and or purses on a shelf, standing upright if possible, group by colour and size.
9. Hang belts on a belt rack or looped through a wooden hanger.
10. Scarves can be hung on pant hangers if room permits or folded in a drawer or small bin.
11. Shoes should be stored out of the shoebox to maximize space and also to see what you have. Arrange them by colour ensuring seasonal shoes are stored elsewhere.
12. If hanging space is very limited even after the purge, use shelves for holding folded sweaters, casual T-shirts and tank tops arranging them by colour and folding them GAP style.
13. When hanging all items make sure that the hangers are consistent and the items face the same way. To avoid the annoying folded creased pant, use a pant hanger and hang them upside down in full length.
14. Hang all tops together arranging them in from lightest to darkest. Ranging from tank top to full sleeve.
Brenda Borenstein is your Professional Organizing Guru. Look out for her column every second Thursday in the Metro in the Homes section. For more tips and ideas please visit her Website www.organizedzone.com or call 416-665-2165 or 1-800-771-6052. She has organized hundreds of homes and says, “There is nothing I haven’t seen and nothing that can’t be overcome.”