Your closet is probably the least used room in your house unless you’re a hoarder. But if you’ve been living with a messier closet than normal, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to cleaning out and reorganizing.
We started special research on how to manage and handle a messy closet, and here are ten ways to organize it easier (include a relevant video discussing another ten ideas):
1. Don’t buy new shoes
Buy secondhand shoes if you don’t want to spend money on new shoes but still want to maintain a clean appearance. You may not get brand-new shoes at a good price, but you’ll find them on sale or in thrift stores. If you have the extra cash, consider buying shoes online from sites like eBay, which also offer name-brand deals. Just research before buying because you don’t want to regret a purchase.
Another way to save money on shoes is by taking advantage of free events around town. Some organizations hold shoe drives yearly for people who can’t afford new ones. For example, the Salvation Army has a partnership with Nike, so you can get a free pair of shoes when you donate any other items to its Thrift Stores. The same goes for Goodwill.
If you prefer to shop online, check Runrepeat.com, which lets you compare features or prices and read reviews before you buy.
2. Store everything in one place
When you look in your closet, you’re likely to see three common problems: too many clothes, too many accessories, and too much jewelry. It’s tempting to buy something when you see something you like, but if you’re not careful, that pretty necklace or colorful scarf could quickly become part of your collection, and then you won’t have anywhere to put it.
The key to keeping your closet under control is to store all your belongings in one place, whether it’s a dresser drawer, a shelf unit, or a cabinet. This decision will ensure that you always have access to what you need. To avoid reaching into more than one storage area, hang clothing on a rod or bar, use plastic bins and baskets or create an organizational system for belts, ties, and scarves.
3. Hang clothes on a rod or bar
Hanging your clothes isn’t just about having enough hooks. There are several reasons to hang your clothing rather than fold it: Your clothes stay cleaner longer. When you hang your clothes, they dry faster and therefore don’t contain as much dirt and bacteria. Plus, hanging makes it easy to see your clothes if you’re short on drawer space.
To hang your clothes, you can opt for the traditional hanger method (which requires hooks) or the newer method of using elastic bands, which allows you to create different lengths and styles of clothing racks. We also recommend making vertical spaces for your clothes. Instead of folding them, lay them flat against the wall and slide them off to organize them.
If you don’t want to mess with hangers, hang your jeans, shirts, skirts, and dresses on wooden clothes rods or metal hangers. Keep these in a closet near the door, so you’ll be able to grab them without getting distracted.
4. Create an organizational system for belts, ties, and scarves
One of the easiest ways to organize your accessories is to hang them on a rod or bar. Once you’ve hung your belt and tie, you can add your scarves by sliding them down the bar. They’ll automatically be positioned next to each other.
Create a system for your belts, ties, and scarves for a more complicated solution. For example, hang your belt on one side of your closet and your tie on the opposite side. Then, line up your scarves along the top of your wardrobe, and hang them from hooks on the ceiling. By doing this, you won’t have to worry about losing track of what you own.
5. Use shelves instead of baskets
Instead of storing your clothes in baskets, use shelves. Shelves allow you to choose what you keep. You can hang your clothes directly on the wall or a rack. If you want, you can also add a few decorative shelves above the main section to give your closet more character.
Of course, if you want to maximize your space, you can build custom shelves from plywood, particle board, MDF, or cork. You’ll need to cut them to size and attach them to the wall with screws (That’s only the basic instructions). If you’re handy with tools, you can make DIY shelves easily. However, if you’re unsure how to attach the shelves to the wall, hire a professional to install them (Hire someone registered in thumbtack, for example).
Bonus tip! Get rid of those old towels.
You might think it’s wasteful to throw away perfectly good towels, but if you don’t get rid of them, you’ll never have a chance to reuse them. If you’re not ready to toss them, you can repurpose them.
For instance, you can turn old towels into bath mats or washcloths. Or you can use them as rags and mops for mopping floors. Here you can find thirteen alternative ideas for handling good old towels or little ugly ones.
We all have closets, but not everyone knows how to organize them. If your closet looks like a tornado hit it, don’t worry! There are ways to get it back in order without hiring a professional organizer or spending hours on Pinterest. This second section of our closet management will also make your closet look better.
6. Create an organized system
Before organizing anything, you must decide what you want to keep in your closet. Do you have two pairs of jeans, one pair of pants and one pair of shorts? Or do you just wear one type of clothing throughout the year? If you’re going through an entire wardrobe, you’ll need to create a system where everything fits together.
For example, if you only have one pair of jeans, you only need to hang those on hangers. But if you have multiple types of jeans, you may need to use different hangers or baskets. The key here is to try to group similar items. For instance, if you have several pairs of jeans in various colors, put them on the same hanger so they’ll match each other.
You can also use baskets to separate certain clothing items like shirts. Put all your light-colored shirts into one basket, then place all your dark-colored ones into another. Now you can easily find both types of shirts when you need them.
If you’re still unsure which items belong together, take a few photos of the whole closet and upload them onto a photo app like Instagram or Facebook. Then ask friends or family members to comment with their opinion as well. Once you’ve got a good idea of how you should group your clothing, you can start working on sorting out any remaining items.
7. Sort your clothing into separate zones
After you’ve created your organizational system, it’s time to work on separating things by color, style, and brand name. For example, put them all in one section if you have several black dresses. If you have several black turtlenecks, then put them in another area.
You can do this in many different ways. You could have a large section for men’s clothing, then several smaller sections for women’s clothing. Another option is to do it based on the season. One area might be spring, summer, fall, and winter gear. Whatever you choose, you now have a clear path for where to store your clothing.
8. Use baskets for all types of items
Another important part of your closet organization system is using baskets. If you haven’t used baskets before, you won’t know exactly how much space they take up. So, it’s a good idea to buy a handful of these storage containers at a discount store and test them out first. That way, you’ll know which size works best for your closet.
Once you figure out the right size, use them to store every item in your closet. You won’t even have to touch your clothing when you’re done. Just toss everything into the basket, and you’re ready to go.
Baskets are great because they’re stackable, so you can always add more depending on how much room you have left. And since they’re made from recycled materials, you can feel good about using them. Plus, they come in different shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find one that works for your wardrobe.
9. Group similar things together
Now that you’ve separated the clothing you own into individual areas, it’s time to group similar things together. This trick will allow you to see what you already have and avoid buying duplicate items later.
For example, if you have a bunch of white shirts, put them all on the same hanger or in the same basket. If you have several pairs of blue jeans, put them on the same hanger. By doing this, you’ll be able to save money down the road when you’re replacing certain items.
Also, if you’re trying to clear out your closet and donate items, grouping similar items together make it easier to sort and box them up. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about losing track of all your old clothes as you remove them from the closet.
10. Make it easier to find what you need
One of the biggest problems with organizing your closet is finding things quickly and easily. If you have to dig around for hours looking for something specific, it’ll be hard to maintain your new system.
To fix this problem, create a small “cheat sheet” with all the essential information such as brand names, sizes, colors, etc. Place it somewhere easy to locate so you won’t forget it while putting away your new, organized clothing.
And once you’ve finished getting rid of the old stuff, replace it with new pieces that fit your new system. Not only will this make your closet look nicer, but it’ll also make it easier to find your clothes when needed.
Clean Up Your Closet With Helpful Advice From The Pro!
Here we go:
- Annual closet cleanouts are a fantastic method to keep your closet organized, whether you do it before your birthday, the new year, or every spring. Seifert tells us, “Use the one-year rule for cleaning out—if you haven’t worn it in the last year, it’s probably safe to donate it or sell it.” More about Jimmy Seifert
- Reselling unwanted stuff is an ideal strategy (more over during an economic recession) to maintain your current wardrobe without going bankrupt. Discover local consignment stores and sell your unwanted goods there to get money.
So,
Whether you’re a seasoned closet organizer or just starting, creating an efficient system is a clever way to improve your home life. After reading this article, we hope you will be able to arm yourself with efficient declutter tips and turn your closet look better than ever before.
While there are plenty of other articles about organizing your closet, these ten simple steps are perfect for beginners who want to keep their space tidy while saving money. And once you’ve mastered these, you can apply them to your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere else you have a lot of clutter.
More on that later, or you can use our search to get those discussions. For now, let’s check out a relevant video we already shout out in the opening.
10 Cleaning Closet Routines and Management Video:
[videopress qaKvPebO]Comfort is not something that you can get. It is something that you need to earn, instead. You can create the comfort of coziness that you always want by cleaning the house thoroughly because a clean home can make you feel relaxed and comfortable despite the size.
Unfortunately, cleaning is one of the most tedious and daunting chores. It may happen because of the messy look inside the closet, and you cannot find your cleaning kit easily.
If you are dealing with a messy closet, you can try these 10 cleaning closet routines to keep your clutter easier to handle later. As always, Simphome compiled the list.
10. Group the Items Accordingly
The organization in your closet is one of the most common reasons you are reluctant to clean up your house. You constantly forget where you put your window cleaner or air freshener.
It often happens because you simply toss it into your cleaning closet without thinking about where it should belong. Now, you have to stop it and begin to sort out your cleaning essentials.
The best way to store your cleaning essentials is by category.
For example, you can store bathroom cleaning products on one shelf and kitchen cleaning essentials on another. This way, finding what you are looking for will be much easier.
You can also try incorporating wicker baskets to house the cleaning essentials for the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. It will help you save time cleaning one of those rooms because you will only need to grab the container and bring it.
9. Keep Long-Handled Tools and Collapsible Items behind the Closet Door
Your cleaning closet consists of shelves. Then, you wonder where you should stash your broom and mop. You cannot store them on the shelves, can you?
For this reason, you need to tap into the vertical space – the area behind the door.
The closet door is tall and has no shelves, which is perfect for long-handled tools, such as broom, mop, and duster. You only need to install a broom holder behind the closet door to hold your tools in place.
You can also store collapsible items behind your closet doors, such as folding stools and collapsible buckets. To make them stay in place, you can install low-profile hooks.
8. Invest in Clear Bins
One thing that makes your cleaning closet look messy is you do not provide an appropriate house to anchor miscellaneous items. You can tackle it by investing in clear bins.
Clear bins look fantastic because they create uniformity in your closet. Furthermore, they can do wonders by organizing miscellaneous items. Most importantly, finding what you are looking for will be easy since you can see through them.
7. Make Sure You Place Everyday Essentials at Eye Level
Sorting out the cleaning essentials you need is crucial. Once you have grouped them, you need to know where to stash them.
Thoughtfully storing those items can help you optimize the available space in your small closet. As a good rule of thumb, you had better place less-used items on the top shelf.
Then, ensure that the cleaning essentials you use daily are at eye level so that you do not need to dive into the closet when looking for them.
6. Use Every Nook and Cranny
Tapping into every nook and cranny in your small closet is essential. This way, you can make the most of the limited space.
Try installing some hooks inside your closet. If you already have a dedicated spot for long-handled tools in your closet, try hanging a shoe organizer to tap into the area behind the door.
You can use the shoe organizer to store small items that tend to get lost on shelves.
5. Purchase or Make a Battery Organizer
The battery is another tiny item that tends to get lost on shelves. It explains why you always spend much time finding a replacement battery for your remote control.
If you frequently experience this kind of thing, you had better purchase a battery organizer or a container with dividers. It might look simple, but it will help you organize your batteries properly.
If you opt for a battery organizer, you can enjoy several benefits. First, it has compartments for batteries. Thus, your batteries will not drain because they touch each other. This organizer also features a built-in battery tester that lets you see whether your battery works.
4. Use the Versatility of Drawer Dividers and Labels
Another way to store small items, including your batteries, is to place a drawer inside the closet. Make sure each drawer has dividers, so everything will not be mixed up.
Putting a label on each drawer may sound time-consuming, but it is worth it. Think about better time management next time you try to find a battery or key.
3. What to Store on the Top Shelf
You might think that you can store less-used items on the top shelf. However, if they are too heavy, you had better place them somewhere else because it would be dangerous to reach them by stepping on a stool.
So, what should you store on the top shelf?
You can stash lightweight objects you do not use daily, such as extra paper towels.
2. Schedule Your Cleaning Time
What is the point of decluttering your cleaning closet if you are still reluctant to tidy up your house? Maybe you are willing to do this chore but don’t know where to begin.
Therefore, you can try creating your custom cleaning schedule and attach it next to your closet. You can include weekly, monthly, and even yearly chores. Do not forget to list the seasonal tasks, needed supplies, and homemade cleaning solution recipes, too.
Lastly, number 1. Protect the Closet Floor
Consider protecting the floor of your cleaning closet with a sheet of durable adhesive paper that you can clean and wipe easily. You can also opt for a flexible rubber, a water-resistant tray that will catch any wayward drips or dust from your cleaning tools. Besides, they will also protect the floor from damage.
After decluttering your closet and applying these 10 cleaning closet routines, we hope you do not mind cleaning your house anymore. Soon after, you will earn a comfortable and relaxing place to live.
References:
10. Mydomaine.com
9. Bhg.com, Rd.com
8. Mydomaine.com
7. Realsimple.com
6. Thenopressurelife.com, Realsimple.com
5. Walmart.com, Rd.com
4. Bhg.com, Mydomaine.com
3. Bhg.com, Queenbeeofhoneydos.com
2. Bhg.com, Homeyou.com
1. Bhg.com, Rd.com