Many of us are victims of messy, disorganized closets. We hang clothes on hooks, we throw shoes and bags on shelves while miscellaneous items like umbrellas and boots get tossed below. With this kind of chaos, a mess of unattractive confusion is inevitable. Not to mention, your closet could become unhygienic and smelly. To help combat this, we’ve put together six closet maintenance tips that will help you stay organized and managed.
6 Simple Ways To Keep Your Closet Neat And Organized
1. Decide on what’s "regular" storage and what's "deep" storage
Deep storage simply refers to stowing away anything that you don’t plan on using for a long time, if at all. This could be heirloom furniture, collectibles or special keepsakes. Regular storage is anything you want or need easy access to. Think: off-season clothes, holiday ornaments and sports equipment. Deep storage items may require humidity and temperature control while regular storage items should be able to handle fluctuations in both. Whether you use your basement, attic or an off-site storage facility for your belongings, use opaque or at least tinted storage bins that are well marked with its contents, avoid storing in direct sunlight, and be sure to carefully wrap delicate items in bubble wrap and / or newspaper.
Cleaning out your closets on a regular basis (we recommend twice a year) will help to keep your space neat and tidy.
Cleaning out your closets on a regular basis (we recommend twice a year) will help to keep your space neat and tidy.
2. Add some lighting
Adding a bit of lighting will help you get the most optimal use out of your closet, especially if you have harder to reach areas like deep sides or high shelves. If your closet doesn't have lighting, try battery operated tap lights, which will allow you to place them where you need light the most. Tap lights come in different shapes, sizes and wattage, and some even come remote controlled.
  6 Pcs Puck Lights with Remote Control, amazon.com (click to shop) |
  LED Strip Lights With Remote, amazon.com (click to shop) |
3. Clean your closet on the reg
We highly suggest that you do a regular check of your closet at least every eight weeks. Wipe down any surfaces with a chemical-free cleaning solution (which can get rid of odors and also stop mold from growing in your closet, remove and replace any wonky or broken hangers, neatly organize your shoes, and refold any sweaters, shirts or other items that may have gotten disorganized over time. Take stock of what's creating the biggest issues for your closet organization: are you short on shoe storage? Do you need more pants hangers, or perhaps a belt rack or a way to store your handbags? Check online for affordable options to solving your closet dilemmas.
4. Don’t hang bulky items in your clothes closet
If at all possible, try and store large and bulky items like coats and boots elsewhere, like an entryway closet during the winter months, and on a clothing rack in the basement in summer. If you're concerned with the basement-y smell, a few garment bags and a product like DampRid to remove moisture and musty odors.
  Pack of 20 Nonslip Wooden Hangers, amazon.com (click to shop) |
  Pack of 5 Garment Bags With Window, amazon.com (click to shop) |
5. Quality hangers are a must
Steer clear of cheap hangers. They don't do your clothes any favors, and will create lumps and bumps in your clothes, forcing you to iron or steam before wearing (again). We suggest heavy duty wooden hangers for items like coats and blazers, velvet hangers for shirts and other delicate items, and padded satin hangers for sweaters and cardigans. For suits, use wooden hangers with pant clips (above), and for skirts, pressed pants (and even jeans), opt for wooden slack hangers or clear crystal clip hangers. And for the love of Pete, NO WIRE HANGERS, EVERRRRR!
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Pack of 20 Nonslip Wooden Hangers, amazon.com (click to shop) |
  Bamboo Garment Coat Clothes Rack with top Shelf and Shoe Rack, amazon.com (click to shop) |
6. Shelf dividers are incredibly useful
Shelf dividers are fantastic for horizontal shelves. They can help you separate stackable items that are prone to slipping or sliding (like sweaters), and they can help organize other items, like handbags, wristlets and wallets. In linen closets, they're perfect for keeping sheets and towels neat and tidy.
  Shelf Dividers, Set of 2, amazon.com (click to shop) |
  Acrylic Shelf Dividers, Set of 4, amazon.com (click to shop) |
We understand that it can be difficult to stay organized with your closet, especially if you’ve got a lot of stuff in there that hasn’t been sorted for a long time. However, we all have to start somewhere and it’s best to get it done sooner rather than later. Pick a good time (such as the weekend), start small and slowly organize your closet with our list of tips.
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