Simple Organizing Tips

Closet Tips

Once you have organized your closet; how do you prevent clothes from accumulating again?  Here’s a thought, how about placing an empty container (could be a hamper or bag) and keep it in your closet.  Label it, “Donate or Give Away.”

Every-time you put on a garment make sure it meets the following requirement in order to keep it:

1. Does not make you feel good?
2. Do you love it?
3. Do you look attractive?
4. Does it fit?
5. Is it stained?
6. Is it damaged?
7. Is it 1985ish?

If the answer is NO to any of the above–then toss it in the container.  Then every 6 months or once a year sort through it.  Throw away anything damaged or stained or both.  Then you may want to take your items to shelters that help battered women and help them start over in life.  Or how about Hospice donation centers that help families when love ones are terminally ill.

If you want to make some money, than take your good clothing that you no longer have use for to your local consignment shop.  One place I know of is called, Plato’s closet.

If you are handy at repairing your clothes, then keep a small sewing kit in your closet and have a separate container for such clothing.  Then schedule a time in your planner, (see my Time Management article) and select a date and time you will focus on clothes mending.

By the way, make sure you have the right equipment for repairing garments.  In addition to my passion for organizing, I studied dressmaking and designing for 3 years.  The right tools are essential for doing things quickly and easily.  Get a small sewing kit, or make your own.  Make sure you have the following items in your sewing kit:

1. Scissors
2. Tape measure
3. Fusible tape for quick hemming jobs
4. Craft glue/sewing glue to repair hems or for temporary repairs on clothing, shoes, etc…
5. Various size needles
6. Straight pins and safety pins
7. Basic color threads, black, white, beige, blue…
8. Razor blade to help take the fuzz off sweaters.

TIP:

• Keep empty hangers in front of your closet so you don’t waste time searching for hangers.
• Keep like items together and place a hook over your door to put the outfit you will wear the next day.  This is a great time saver.

Note this statistic: Good Housekeeping Mag. said on January 2011 issue:  55 minutes is the amount of time an average American spends each day looking for things she has but can’t find.

Here are two recycle tips (see Tip section on my website), that you could use while we are on the subject of your closet.

• Old magazines, well if you have boots, insert magazine in them so they can stand up in your closet.  No more messy boots in your closet.  Share this tip with your friends and give them your extra magazines if needed.  Give the idea to a consignment shop and spread this recycle tip.
• Newspapers– can be used to absorb orders in shoes or sneakers.

I hope you enjoyed some of these tips.  My mission is to help you “simply your life, and create your vision of order.”

Call for a free 30 minute consultation to see how I can help you with your mission at, 813-514-5696 nancy@missionorganizing.com