Fall Closet Cleanout Tips
Fall, the magical time of the year where it is comfortable to spend time outside and enjoy the buttery hues of the sun. It’s the break you get between the sweltering summer heat and the frigid winter temperatures. You might be mentally ready for fall, but how about your custom closets?
Getting your closets ready for fall is not as daunting as it sounds. The best tips for migrating from summer to autumn include:
- Take stock of your wardrobe
- Clean, clean, clean
- Get organized
- Get out your fall wardrobe
- Pack up summer
- Take care of the coat closet
- Don’t forget the kids’ closet
It’s time to grab a mug of your favorite tea and learn more about how to best prepare your closets for fall.
Take Stock of Your Current Wardrobe
As with any organizing project, the first thing you need to do is take stock of your current spring/summer wardrobe. Now is the time to toss anything that is worn out. As you get ready to pack everything away, dispose of any pieces that are overly worn or need to be thrown away. As you’re going through your current wardrobe, don’t forget to look through your dresser drawers!
Not everything will be tossed into the trash, so sort carefully. Some of the items in your closet you’ll want to save for next summer. Other things you might not want anymore, yet they are still in good condition. These items should be donated.
This is also your opportunity to weed out duplicate pieces you’ve been hoarding for years. You know, the shirts that fit the same and happen to be the same shade of blue that you fell in love with because they went with everything. It’s time to give up the ghost and get rid of some of those items. You don’t need 30 shirts in the same color, 27 of which you never wear! Instead, mix it up a bit by exploring the entire rainbow.
Clean It Up
With your closet empty, now it's time to clean! You know deep down that cleaning any closet in your home has never been a top priority until now. Never fear! With the area empty, you can make quick work of those dust bunnies hiding in the corners.
In all seriousness, take a few minutes to dust the shelves and wipe down your baseboards. Then, run the vacuum over the carpet. Finally, take the time to let any musty smells dissipate from your closet before restocking it with your fall wear.
Take a Moment to Organize
With a clean closet looming in front of you, now is the perfect time to get things organized. Unfortunately, fall and winter clothes take up a lot more space than traditional summer garments. As such, you’ll need to be strategic in how you arrange your closet.
As suggested in Thezoereport.com, you want to organize your fall wardrobe by priority. In most parts of the country, fall begins warm and gradually gets cooler. Occasionally, summer might want to pop back up for a day or two, so you need to have some flexibility in your wardrobe. Group warmer weather items together and cooler weather items together. This will make it easier for you to locate the perfect outfit, no matter the temperature outside.
Get creative when it comes to breaking up your closet space. Use baskets & hanging bins to create a sense of order. For example, a well-placed hanging sweater bin can help break up your warmer weather clothes from your full-on fall ensembles.
With the cooler weather, sandals are put away and boots come out to play. Knee and thigh-high boots, however, have their own storage issues. If you want to keep them from losing their shape or getting buried at the bottom of your closet, you can take pool noodles and cut them in half. Then stick the halves in each of the boots to keep them upright.
Unbox Fall Wardrobe
While purging your closet, you'll also need to start pulling fall items out of storage. Lay your clothes out on the bed & repeat the same keep, toss, donate process. If there are articles of clothing that you don’t like or are the wrong size, now is the time to weed them out. Donate or sell gently used clothing and dispose of any articles that are damaged beyond repair. Make a note of any items you may need before going shopping for the perfect additions.
With the closet clean and ready for your wardrobe, you can start sorting and organizing your fall wear and put it away. Don’t forget your favorite fall accessories such as hats, blazers, and maybe even lightweight scarves. All should be added to your closet in preparation for the cooler weather.
Store Summer Away
Your closet is now in some semblance of order. But sadly, you can’t say the same for your room. First, you need to go through your keep pile of summer items. As mentioned earlier, you may want to keep a few critical pieces of your summer wardrobe on hand for the warmer parts of fall.
Coldwellbanker.com suggests you pick out a few t-shirts or summertime blouses to add to your collection. You want to choose colors and styles that you can add layers to make a unique fall look. Once you’ve picked your favorites, add them to the warmer end of your fall collection.
Get The Hall Closet Ready for Cooler Weather
The bedroom closet is done! You can sit back and relax now, or can you? This is the perfect opportunity to go through your hall closet and pull out any lightweight jackets or other fall outerwear that may be stored there.
Just like with your bedroom closet, you want to clean the hall closet thoroughly and toss anything that you don’t want/doesn’t fit anymore. It’s also an excellent time to check out the winter coats to make sure they still fit or would benefit from a trip to the dry cleaner.
Don’t Forget The Kids
With your wardrobe and the hall closet tamed, it’s time to tackle probably the most frustrating of all closets, the kids! Not only do you have to comb through the junk they have tossed unceremoniously, but also the mountain of clothes as well. If you’re like most parents, you have a few items saved from last year that you hope they’ll still be able to wear. However, it’s time to check not only the condition of the clothing but also the sizes.
Anything in good condition that doesn’t fit should be donated or sold. Finally, make a list of all items the kids need to fully prepare for the changing season. As with your own wardrobe, organize theirs so it's easy for them to find favorite pieces and weather-appropriate options.
Conclusion
Seasonal changes are a great time to go through your closets and get them organized and ready for the new season. By thoroughly cleaning out your wardrobe, you can take stock of what you have, need, and want to get rid of. Go ahead and store away your summer clothes so that you have plenty of space for your fall gear. As tiresome as it is, don't forget to go through the kids' clothes too.