Most times you don’t get to realise how much of a mess you make of your closet until you are unable to locate some of your clothes. Keeping a scattered closet can be so tiring and this is something we just can’t help at some point. It takes deliberate effort to keep a clean closet, and it can be quite demanding. But here are a few tips to make it easier.
Normalise rearranging your closet
Every once in a while, try working through your closet. This could be a long process, so you don’t need to do it every day. To start with, take out everything in your closet and keep them in a large pile; make sure that the closet is empty. This will allow you to see how much space you have available for your items and can thus facilitate your arrangement style. Once everything is out you can start rearranging. But first, you could consider cleaning out your closet, probably giving it a good scrub, wiping the shelves and racks, vacuuming, or sweeping the floor, just anything that goes well with you.
While arranging, only put in the closet clothes that you know you still need. Try not to do too much here, and know that you can’t keep everything, some have to go. You should create a schedule for this procedure depending on how convenient it is for you, it could be once or twice a month.
Donate or do away with unused items
Asides from the clothes you intend to keep, there are two other categories of items you need to pick. Clothes that are going into the trash and the others to charity. There are a few factors to consider when picking, some are; the condition of the clothes or items, the wearability and also how long you’ve worn such clothes. The last factor might not apply to all your clothes but it applies to most of them.
For clothes that have been in your closet for a long, you’re most likely not to wear them again, so you can just keep them in the donation pile. Stained or discoloured clothes should be tossed, and damaged shoes and accessories as well. However, if you want to be more conservative, you can convert damaged clothes to rags for cleaning and dusting.
You might want to hold on to some old t-shirts, they usually come in handy when you need something simple to wear at home. If you are finding it hard to let go or to decide which item should stay or leave, pick out clothes that no longer fit or suit your style, items you have multiples of, or ones you have worn too many times but now dislike. If there are items that seem just too personal to let go of, you can put them in a box and keep them somewhere else so they don’t take up too much space in your closet.
For clothes that are still wearable, consider donating or selling them. You can even give them out to a friend. They can serve a better purpose this way rather than wasting away in the closet.
Be strategic when rearranging
This is where you need to make things easier for yourself. You can try arranging your items based on seasons, styles, or events. Keep regular items at close reach, so you don’t have to scamper through your closet to pick them up. Depending on your work schedule or type, arrange formal wares separately from other ones. Formal dresses Australia are better arranged by fixing them on hangers rather than folding them.
Out-of-season items, like swimsuits and sweaters, can be kept away from the others, while clothes that can be worn for any season should be within reach; likewise, accessories that go well with any cloth.
While arranging, ensure that your clothes and other items are well organised. You can consider installing new shelves or drawers in the closet so you have more space for these items. Basically, the idea here is to find storage options that will make the job easier for you such as hooks and stacking trays for your accessories. It is preferable to only hang clothes that you wear daily or weekly, or keep them near the front of your closet that way they are easily accessible.
Restocking should come after you’ve cleaned out
At some point in time, you have to restock the closet. After shopping, you have new clothes to fill in, meaning that you need to have space for them and how best to do this other than having some clean-up done. This is important because after refilling your closet with new items you tend to wear less of the old ones, and may eventually forget they are there. So before stacking up your new items, take out those you have worn for too long, and items that you are likely not to use anymore. This way you can keep a tab on what you have.
It is likewise important if this step can be done in the reversed way, that is, arranging your closet before you restock. This will help guide your purchases so you don’t eventually buy what you already have.
No doubt, keeping an organized closet can be a lot of work, the most tiring part is having to clean out and rearrange the closet. But it is undoubtedly a good way to improve your living space and creating a lasting change. It’s a great way to ensure that everything stays in one place and you are in full control of your closet. Most people dread even starting, but the thing is, the more you ignore, the harder it becomes so it’s better to start anyway.
Scheduling is very crucial here. Being consistent ensures that your closet remains clean for a longer time. Neglecting your closet after you have arranged it means you have more work to do when you finally decide to get it cleaned up, so ensure you keep up. Schedule the cleaning for days when you have less work, probably on weekends, play some music and get the work done.
