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Newsletter Archives
September 2008
Clearing The Closet
August 2008
How To Let Go Of Stuff
July 2008
Managing Medical Records
June 2008
Road Trip Organizing
May 2008
Collections Instead of Clutter
April 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
March 2008
Where to Begin
February 2008
When You Want to Help
January 2008
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization
December 2007
Organize for Air Travel
November 2007
Organize for Small Spaces
October 2007
When Life Happens, Reorganize
September 2007
Bathroom Organizing
August 2007
Paper Organizing
July 2007
Uncluttered Kids' Rooms
June 2007
Top Ten Organizing Tools
May 2007
Grapple The Garage
April 2007
Managing Your Time
March 2007
Spring Organizing
February 2007
Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents
January 2007
National Get Organized Month
December 2006
Year End Organizing
November 2006
Give Thanks for Being Organized
October 2006
Holiday Kitchen Organization
September 2006
In Case of a Weather Emergency - Organize!
August 2006
Back to School Organizing
July 2006
Declare your Independence from Summer Clutter
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ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2008
Clearing the Closet
Is your clothes closet full but you cannot find what you want to wear? Are your shoes in a pile and you have a hard time finding two that match? It is time to make your closet work for you. It is time to organize. If the task seems daunting, I can work with you to bring your clothes under control.
- The first step in organizing your closet is to take everything out. Sort the contents into piles—hanging clothes, folded clothes, accessories, shoes, non-clothing items. It will be like a treasure hunt; you never know what you will find.
- While your closet is empty, give it a fresh coat of paint. Closets often get skipped when the rest of the room is painted. You will be surprised how much a light color will change the total look of the closet.
- Purge each pile. Be honest. For each item, ask yourself—“Do I love it; do I use it; does it fit?” If your answer is no, donate the item. If something is stained, badly worn, or torn then toss it. Charities cannot use things they cannot sell. If you notice you have multiples of the same color items—7 white blouses or 8 black pants--keep only the best and donate the excess.
- Place your hanging items back in the closet. Group like items together by length and color. For example, hang in order—short sleeve blouses, long sleeve blouses, skirts, pants, then dresses. Place special occasion clothing separate from workout clothes. A consistent style of hanger—wood, plastic, or metal—will instantly make your closet look pulled together.
- Place your folded clothes in clear bins or use shelf dividers to keep the stacks from toppling over. Sort folded clothes by style—T-shirts, sweaters, tank tops.
- Use clear containers to hold accessories such as belts and scarves. Roll the belts so they do not get tangled. Fold or roll the scarves to reduce wrinkles.
- Shoe racks and clear shoe boxes discourage shoe piles. There are a variety of racks available to fit every closet configuration—wall/door mount, hanging canvas shelves, floor racks. Clear shoe boxes stack neatly on the floor or on shelves. They keep pairs together and dust free. Sort shoes by function and color—athletic, casual, dressy, office.
- If your closet is still overflowing after purging, consider storing out of season clothes elsewhere to free up space. Under the bed bins hold a lot of clothes. Vacuum sealed bags or oversized zip bags reduce the space clothes take up and fit neatly under the bed also. You can store clothes in decorative baskets or boxes on top of an entertainment center, under a sofa table, or on top of a bookshelf.
- Move miscellaneous items such as photo albums, sports equipment, and warehouse packages of toilet paper out of your clothes closet. If you use your closet only for clothing, shoes, and accessories, it will stay organized instead of being a dumping ground.
- Install a large hook in the closet or on a wall just outside to hang your outfit for the next day. It is a great morning timesaver if you make your wardrobe decisions the night before. You can discover missing buttons, snagged hems, or stains when you are not rushing to get out the door.
©All Sorted Out, 2008 All Rights Reserved
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