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Preventing
the Closet Takeover
The task of cleaning
out our closets is one that we tend to put off. One reason
is that there are a lot of memories and guilt in there,
from the prom dress to the rainbow suspenders. But it really
is ok to let go of any items that do not say who you are
today, or as I like to say, "not
in your current life chapter."
It is best to make
a habit of cleaning out your closet at least twice a year.
A good rule of thumb (and easy way to remember) is to
clean it out during Easter and Labor Day weeks.
Don’t despair,
closet take over can happen to anyone, but here are some
tips to get a handle on your new closet:
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Start with the clothing to the far left of the closet
and look at one item at a time asking yourself. Do I
love this item? Do I wear
it regularly? We wear just 20 percent
of our wardrobe 80 percent of the time. If you find
yourself saying, “I
might wear this some day…” realize that
there is an 80 percent chance that you won’t.
Get
rid of it!
- Giving
to charity is a good motivator. Visualize another
individual getting enjoyment from your donation instead
of it being stored in your closet for another six months.
If you feel the items are too new and valuable, then
find a consignment shop and get some money for them.
- Keep off-season
clothing stored in another area. Store coats in a front
closet and not your bedroom closet. If you are storing
hanging items in an attic or garage or anywhere the change
in humidity or temperature may affect them, be
sure to pack them in cotton bags and not plastic.
- There are two
ways to sort clothing in a closet, by color or by type.
Either way you will find some new outfit combinations
that you were not aware of previously. When sorting by
type, start with gathering all tops that you want to keep.
Place the sleeveless ones all together then move to your
short sleeve tops and do the same. Then continue with
long sleeve tops, jackets, suits, skirts and pants. If
hanging space is minimal, keep in mind that you can easily
fold jeans and any knits on shelves or in drawers.
 And
while we are on hanging, I recommend the clear
plastic hangers with the wire top. These swivel,
which makes facing everything one direction a lot easier.
The wire tops take less space than plastic hangers. In
addition, they hold clothing a lot straighter. When
you are shopping and they ask if you want the hanger,
say yes!
- If you are not
sure if you are wearing something enough to keep it, hang
all of your current season wardrobe pieces on hangers
with the hook backwards on the rod. After
you wear an item hang it back up front ways.
By the end of the season you can easily tell which items
were worn and which were not. The items still hanging
backwards are your items for reconsideration or donation.
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Could
this be your closet? |
Look at your shoes
and ask yourself the same questions. Do I really
wear them? Do I love them? To find out the truth,
stuff every pair of shoes with tissue paper. When you
wear a pair you will have to take out the tissue. At the
end of the season, the ones with the tissue did not get
worn. Now do yourself a
favor and donate those shoes.
- Get
shoes off the floor too. There are many
shoe holders on the market, from shoe shelving to shoe
pockets that hang on the door to assist you. A
clear floor gives a more open feel and you can actually
vacuum it!
- In the past you
brought a lot more into your closet than what you took
out. To alleviate this problem, think
“one in, one out’. When a
new item is brought in, an older item needs to go out.
Keep a small box in your closet for just these items.
When the box is full it
is time to run it to a donation center (great for kids
closets too).
- To alleviate excess
purchases from clogging your closet, create a
list of items you need for your wardrobe each season and
stick with it. Sales are tempting, but before
you decide to purchase a sale item ask yourself two questions.
What will I take out of my closet to replace this with,
and would I buy this item if it were full price?
Congratulations! By
following a few simple steps you can keep a closet to be
proud of! |
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 As
a Professional Organizer, Cyndy Ratcliffe works with home and small business
owners to clear their clutter and organize what is important. She assists
individuals to reduce stress, boost their image, and be more productive
through her speaking, teaching, and hands-on coaching of organizing techniques.
She received her bachelor’s
degree in Business Administration from Ashland University in Ohio and
was a senior-level manager for over 20 years supervising 130 retail stores
before launching Organizing Solutions, Inc.
Cyndy is on the Professional Faculty
at Meredith College, a founding member of The National Association of
Professional Organizers, North Carolina Chapter, and a member of the National
Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. |
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