Organizing the Closet

With the imminent arrival of spring and warm weather comes the chore of swapping out the winter clothes for the summer clothes. Is your closet a seasonal mish-mash with no rhyme or reason? Here are a few simple strategies to help you make that space a bit more user-friendly:

*Pull everything out! Using 2 large bags or boxes, sort clothes into either the donate or toss category. The keepers put off to the side.

*If a piece of clothing is dated, in poor condition, never fit right, a bad color, etc. out it goes! If it’s something you paid a lot of money for, either give it to someone you know or consign it.

*Get rid of the metal hangers by returning them to the dry cleaners.

*Purchase decent clothing hangers. Walmart has an excellent selection!

*Assign sections of your closet to different clothing categories and fill accordingly: long hanging, tops, bottoms, casual, dressy, summer, winter, whatever makes sense to you. It all depends on the size and configuration of your closet.

*Consider re-configuring your closet if it just does not accommodate your wardrobe (i.e. you fold more than you hang, you need extra shoe space, etc.). From do-it-yourself closet components to closet companies, countless options are available to meet most every budget.

*For those smaller closets, it may be necessary to store out-of-season clothing elsewhere. Some good options include canvas wardrobes and plastic under bed storage bins. Keep in mind, do not store clothing in areas prone to moisture and never store clothing that isn’t clean. Products like cedar blocks and Damp Rid will help protect stored clothing. Dryer sheets will also help keep boxed clothing smelling fresh.