Spring 2003 Edition       

Spring Cleaning: 5 Steps to an Organized Clothes Closet    By Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizer     If you can’t look at your wool pants, boots, and flannel pajamas anymore, salvation is just around the corner. The snow that blanketed Fair Lawn has melted and before you know it, we’ll all be wearing shorts and sandals again.  You may be ready for warmer weather but is your closet? Below is a 5-step strategy for cleaning out your clothes closet and making it ready for the next season:  Step 1 Pick a weekend day for spring cleaning your closet. This task takes time and energy—it should not be done in its entirety after a long day at work.     Step 2 On ‘Spring Cleaning Your Closet Day,’ set up three garbage bags or boxes near your closet—label one ‘Throw Away,’ and label the other two ‘Donate,’ and ‘Repair.’ These bags/boxes will assist you as you sort and purge your clothing.    Step 3 Sort through and purge the clothes from this season first. Start with tops (sweaters, turtlenecks, etc.) then move on to bottoms, undergarments, shoes, and accessories. When sorting, keep your eyes open for the following: - holes in sweaters - worn down heels on shoes - anything torn or stained - items that no longer fit your body - any garment that no longer ‘fits your style’    Take one item out of your closet, examine it closely and ask yourself:     Is this something… - that fits me and I wear regularly?   - I love for sentimental or other reasons? - that matches at least two other garments in my wardrobe? - that is in good condition?    If the answer to these questions is YES, then put the item on your bed. If the answer to these questions is NO, then it is decision-making time…   Should the item be… • thrown away?  • donated?  • repaired? • store it in an out-of-the-way place for six months and make a decision then?    Be ruthless when making decisions. Purging will give you more space in your closet, and benefit those who are receiving your donations.  Step 4 Put the bag/box marked ‘Throw Away’ wherever you keep your trash. Take your bag/box marked ‘Repair’ and place it by the front door. This will remind you to bring the items to the tailor /shoemaker so they will be repaired and ready to wear next year. Place the ‘Donate’ bag/box in the trunk of your car. Drop it off at your nearest donation center or drop-off box. If you are unable to drive to a donation center, the Vietnam Veterans of America will come to your home to pick up bags of clothes and other items in good condition (call (800) 775-VETS (8387)).  Step 5 • Now you are left with the articles of clothing you are keeping for next winter. The next step is to find them a home. The amount of space you have in your home will determine where they go. If you have extra closets in your home, turn one of them into an ‘off-season’ closet. In the winter it can house your summer clothes and in the summer it can house your winter clothes. If you are short on closet space, some alternative ways to store off-season clothing are: • spaces in your closet that are difficult to access (a high shelf, the far end of the rod) • empty suitcases • ‘under the bed’ boxes (some have wheels!) • large Rubbermaid containers • Space Bags (suck the air out with a vacuum)  OK—winter clothes are stored away. Pull out your spring/summer clothes and follow steps 2 – 4. Now that you have determined what clothing you will be keeping, it’s time to find these items a good home. Your closet has been emptied of most, if not all winter clothes and it’s time to fill it with your spring/summer wardrobe.    Group like items together. Hanging your clothes by ‘type’ will enable you to find what you need quickly and easily. Put all tops in one area, all bottoms in another. Within these areas, sort and divide clothing into subgroups such as pants/skirts/dresses and three-quarter/short-sleeved/sleeveless tops. Some people prefer to group subgroups of clothing by color or by sleeve/pant length. The choice is yours.    Group by length. Hanging tops on one side of your closet will free up space below. To make the most of this space, add a small dresser, standing shoe rack, or large Rubbermaid storage containers.  Use quality hangers. I cannot stress this enough. Hanging garments on quality hangers will prolong the life of your clothing. Hangers can, but don’t have to be expensive. You can purchase plastic tubular, crystal, or wooden hangers. There are hangers that hold multiple pairs of pants and/or skirts, special hangers for belts, and particular hangers that are appropriate for suits or lingerie. Remove all wire hangers from your closet and return them to your local dry cleaners. Your closet will look great, your clothing will last longer, and your dry cleaner will be thrilled…  Reward yourself for a job well done. Order dinner in and relax—you’ve worked hard and you deserve it.   Keep it up! Your closet looks great! You can find what you need when you need it. But, how will you keep it that way? Take an hour or two every month to go through your clothing and accessories especially if you have a life change (ex. pre- or post-pregnancy, career change) and every six months make cleaning out and organizing your closets a priority.     See Stacey Agin Murray's Previous Columns Get a Job! Tips for Organizing Your Resume (February 2003) Hey, Ma! The Mac-n-Cheese is Fuzzy  (January 2003) Get Organized Week (October 2002) Organizing Your Photos (August 2002)