Smooth the Wrinkles in Your Clothing Storage

Can you believe it’s June already?!! This month is Bed and Bath Organizing month. We’ll make your bed and bathroom the restful sanctuary you deserve with tips on organizing your clothes, accessories, linens and toiletries so that getting ready for your busy day or a peaceful night’s sleep will be seamless and easy peasy. This week I’m sharing my favorite strategies for keeping your clothes easily accessible, tidy and organized.

Now that the world is opening back up and life is beginning to take on some semblance of “normal” again, it’s time to take stock of that wardrobe. Some of us have put on a few pounds since the beginning of the pandemic, while others have lost weight. Whether you’re in a new size now or not, taking stock of what you have, purging what no longer fits the way you'd like or works in your current lifestyle, and organizing your closet and drawers will ensure that you're ready to get back out there in the real world looking your best. An organized clothing system will also save you time and hassle in the morning, keep clothes in better condition longer, and -- my favorite -- reduce dry cleaning bills and ironing. Follow these ten tips to maximize space and functionality in your dresser and closet.

1. Organize by how you select your outfits. There is no "right" way to organize a closet....only a "right for you" way. Whether you choose components primarily by their size, color, fabric, style or season, keeping like items together will make it easier to find what you need quickly and easily.
2. Hang as much as you can. Unless you love to fold (and refold, and refold again), it is much easier to browse your wardrobe selection and keep it tidy when it's hanging. Hanging is also a much more efficient use of space than folding. (Watch my video tutorial that shows a nifty trick for hanging sweaters so that they won’t become misshapen.) 
3. Remove the hanger from the rod whenever you take out something to wear. Place it in your "hanger bank". An area of the rod that’s inconvenient for hanging clothes, or a basket on the floor are ideal places to store your extra hangers when not in use. You'll know just where to find an empty hanger when you need one and this will give you more sliding space on the rod. Nothing deters searching for/hanging up clothes like a tightly packed hanging rod.
4. Use the right hangers for the job. Chunky and padded hangers take up a lot of room, so use them sparingly and only when really necessary for things like suit jackets or the most delicate of items to help them hold their shape. Replace wire dry cleaner hangers as soon as possible, as they are not good for long-term storage and can damage clothes over time. (Tip: most dry cleaners will welcome their wire hangers back, so no need to take up valuable space storing them.) Thin, textured hangers are ideal for keeping slippery fabrics on the hanger while also saving lots of rod space. 
5. Reserve your drawer space for items that cannot be hung and/or can afford to be wrinkled. Pajamas, underwear, socks, workout clothes, swimsuits and tshirts are the best candidates for storing in your dresser drawers.
6. When storing clothes in drawers, fold them to a uniform size and “file” them vertically with the folded edge facing up. This will make it easier to see everything in the drawer at once and pull out only the one item you need without rumpling everything else.
7. Shelves offer a great alternative to drawers for folded clothing. They enable you to easily see what you have at a glance without having to rummage through them. Smaller items like socks, underwear and swim wear can also be stored in bins on the shelves.
8. Don't overlook your vertical storage opportunities on the backs of closet and bedroom doors. Those hanging pocket organizers are useful for more than just shoes! Roll up underwear, swimwear, socks, etc. and store inside the pockets when dresser/shelf space is at a premium. Door hooks can accommodate your bath robe or frequently-worn jackets. Next week, I'll offer you some great vertical storage tips for all kinds of accessories.
9. Purge regularly! The change of seasons is a great time to review your wardrobe and identify giveaways. If your closet is too full, you are more likely to keep wearing the same things over and over because it requires too much effort to find something different. Do not keep clothes in too many sizes or items that are out of style in your closet. This consumes valuable space that could be used for pieces you will wear and enjoy instead. Keeping a donation bag handy in your closet makes purging as you go more automatic and is especially helpful in kids' rooms. As soon as you realize something no longer fits, is defective, or you are unlikely to wear it again for any reason, toss it in your purge bag. Once something goes in, it stays in!
10. Keep up with clean and dirty laundry daily. Putting clean clothes away promptly will keep them clean, minimize wrinkling and enable you to find what you need. When you try clothes on, hang them back up right away so they stay ready to wear. Never let dirty clothes hit the ground! Put them straight in the dirty clothes hamper so that they are out of your way and don't get missed on laundry day. If you plan to re-wear items again before laundering, place them neatly in a designated spot or return them to where they are normally stored to avoid unnecessary clutter and confusion in your bedroom.

Have more fun selecting outfits to wear and simplify your morning routine with a tidy and orderly clothing storage system!

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