Valuable Custom Closet Cleanout Tips for a Tidy Living Space
Cluttered custom closets can cause a headache when you open the closet door to find what you need; but did you know they can also contribute to household disorganization? When you don’t have neat and tidy places to keep your belongings, they tend to leach out into the living areas.
Cleaning out your custom closet will give you more storage space, which can lead to a more streamlined home. Here’s how to get the job done:
- Start With a Plan
- Take Everything Out of the Closet
- Eliminate items you don’t want anymore
- Categorize what’s left
- Use space-saving organizers
It’s time to get started on tackling that closet, so you can enjoy a more tranquil, organized space.
Start With a Plan
You shouldn’t just wake up one morning and decide to conquer your closet. This would likely result in feeling overwhelmed if you didn’t have the right tools or if you didn’t allot enough time for the project.
Instead, think about how long the cleanout will take. A small closet might be able to be done in one afternoon, but you may need a weekend to deal with a very cluttered walk-in closet. Choose a time to begin with that in mind.
Also, gather some supplies. You’ll want garbage bags, a few large boxes, and general cleaning supplies, like a broom and dustpan or vacuum cleaner, some dusting cloths, paper towels, and perhaps a multipurpose cleaner or dusting spray.
Take Everything Out of the Closet
The first step is to remove everything from the closet. Just start on one side, and begin pulling out items. Don’t just dump them on your bedroom floor; instead, find a place to put each category of item. For example, you might want to put clothing on your bed, shoes in a far corner, and other accessories on a nearby table.
As you go, if you notice items that need to be cleaned or mended, you can put them aside. You will be going through each item more carefully in the next step, though, so don’t take too much time on this. The goal is really just to empty the space. If you have garbage, go ahead, and put that in your garbage bags.
Once you have everything out of the closet, give the space a good once-over with your cleaning supplies. Vacuum or sweep the floor, and dust the shelves and even the tops of the hanging rods. If you have any sticky or grimy areas, go ahead and use your cleaning spray and paper towels to take care of those now.
Eliminate Items You Don’t Want Anymore
Now you’ll be looking through your items more carefully. Some will need to be fixed, cleaned, or have stains removed. Put those aside in one pile. You’ll also likely have some items you simply don’t want anymore.
This is where your boxes come in. If you know someone you can give certain items to, you can put them in one box. Label the box with the person’s name.
One or more additional boxes will be for clothing you plan to donate to your favorite thrift store. Write the name of the store on the box. You only want to donate items in good condition; if they’re torn, stained, dirty, or otherwise not fit for resale, plan to just throw them away.
Finally, if you have plans for a garage sale coming up soon, and you have a date in mind, you can put anything you’d like to sell in a box labeled “garage sale.” If you don’t currently have a plan for a sale, it’s really better to just donate these items, as chances are good that you won't get around to it very soon, and this will just lead to clutter in your garage.
Put all of these unwanted items (other than garage sale items) in the trunk or cargo section of your car now. If they remain in your home, the boxes are likely to turn into more clutter. Make a plan for dropping the boxes off where they belong.
Categorize What’s Left
Now that you have removed all unwanted items from your home, it’s time to categorize what’s left. Start by making piles of the items you have in the ways that make the most sense. For example, you can put all of your tops together, all of your bottoms, all of your dresses, all of your jackets, all of your ties, and so on.
It’s possible that as you go through this process, you may find more items you no longer want. If something isn’t bringing you value, it may be time to let it go. As Marie Kondo would say, if something doesn’t “spark joy,” you should discard it. Her methods are discussed on Our Happy Hive.
Use Space-Saving Organizers
Now it’s time to put your belongings back. You should have less items than you did before, and that alone will help you find enough space for everything. Using space-saving organizers will also help.
Consider installing one hanging rod under the other to make it simpler to store separates. You should also invest in a shoe organization system whether you have just a few pairs of shoes or an impressive collection. Having good storage space for them will prevent damage and tripping hazards.
Hooks on the walls and hanging racks will expand your storage space and give you more room by using your vertical space. You can also add storage boxes and bins to shelves or even to a corner on the floor to hold seldom-used items or clothing that’s out of season.
Conclusion
Making the most of your closet space by tidying it up will give you more room to store items. In turn, this reduces the amount of clutter in your home. Planning out your closet cleanout project, donating what you no longer want, and putting items back thoughtfully are some of the most important steps when reorganizing your custom closet.