| You got up late and now you can't find what you | | | | could use and pass it along for free to other families |
| want to wear in the closet and you've had enough and | | | | that they knew could use items. Everything did end up |
| are ready to do something about it. If your closet is | | | | going just as promised and several of my needy |
| bursting at the seams and you've tried the 'standard' | | | | neighbors were able to benefit but without |
| closet organizing tips, we've got 10 great ways for you | | | | embarrassment of appearing in need. In return, I easily |
| to use and gain control of your closet and make your | | | | got rid of a lot 'stuff', felt good about what I had |
| life easier. | | | | accomplished but I also heard back from people who |
| You may have already bought closet organizers or | | | | had received items and how happy and thankful they |
| systems and tried many of the typical closet | | | | were and since then, they've actually helped me out |
| organizational techniques - like separating your clothing | | | | when I needed a certain skill one of them had. I've also |
| by colors (works well), putting an entire outfit on one or | | | | taken a lot of different types of things to my local |
| a two part hanger for ease of access, bought Joy | | | | food bank. Check with your food bank and see if |
| Magano's Huggable Hangers which give you more | | | | they'll accept not food items. Hobby items, books, |
| space and cut down on ironing, and weeded out your | | | | clothing, unopened medicines, table clothes, towels, toilet |
| closet of clothing you don't wear. So what more can | | | | paper, etc., all things that food stamp money doesn't |
| you do - here are 10 new and unexpected ways. | | | | buy and the food bank really does know who is most |
| 1. Take all of your clothes hangers and turn them | | | | in need. |
| around on the rod. Hanger opening is facing into the | | | | 6. You already know to use different height hanging |
| room. As you wear your clothes, rehang the hangers | | | | rods but is your closet space still not maximized. |
| normally. In 6 months, look in your closet and pull out | | | | Usually there is a top shelf that has several feet |
| the hangers and the clothes on them that are still | | | | above it open to the ceiling. Using that incredible square |
| facing the room. These are the clothes you haven't | | | | footage is important. As earlier stated, is a great place |
| worn and thus can get rid of. This system works great | | | | for shoe storage boxes to the ceiling. You can put in |
| with kids and the elderly too, as it is very visual and | | | | additional shelves mounted on the wall or that stand |
| you can't disagree with what you find. (free) | | | | alone (Wal-Mart for about $7) but I like simpler. Try |
| 2. You can buy a wooden vertical pant hanger system | | | | baskets that are stackable (dollar store), I keep a |
| that mounts on the wall in a stud and it has 20 | | | | basket for out-of-season clothes, one for some |
| wooden free swinging arms that you slid your pants | | | | clothes that don't fit but I can't part with, gym clothing, |
| on. The amount of room it saves it incredible and it is | | | | extra pocketbooks, etc. I have a foldable step stool to |
| so easy to get at your pants. It also can fit in places | | | | reach up to where I can safely and easily reach each |
| that would have been wasted or underutilized too. | | | | basket as needed - which isn't often, which is why I |
| Cost is around $20. 20 pants hung in the space (is 15 | | | | put them up high. For tall men, putting in some additional |
| inches length of arms or how far out from the wall it | | | | type of shelving is great for folded jeans, sweat shirts |
| extends and is about 3 feet high) of what usually | | | | and such, without taking up hanging space in the closet. |
| would take 6 pant hangers! | | | | I even use baskets that fit under hanging clothes for |
| 3. Shoes, shoes, shoes - you never can have enough | | | | storage and easy to access. |
| and you never have enough room. Two great ways | | | | 7. Sneaky clothes sorting! If you are one of those |
| to handle the shoe storage need are:a. Shoes out of | | | | people who has a very difficult time deciding what to |
| season or of special occasion type use used shoe | | | | remove from your closet and discard, here is the |
| boxes (free) (men's size boxes are great). Buy a | | | | simplest method. For one month, yes - one month or |
| package of labels at the dollar store ($1) and put on | | | | 30 days, you do your laundry but don't put any of it |
| end of box and in permanent marker write what | | | | back in your closet. Keep it on the dryer, or piled in a |
| shoes are inside. You can usually get two pairs of | | | | chair or somewhere. You will find that you continue to |
| sandals in a box and sometimes two pairs of shoes. | | | | wear what is in your clean clothes pile and not wear |
| Pile your boxes with label side out on the top shelf of | | | | everything in your closet. This method really shows |
| your closet. You can always find what you need, the | | | | you what you wear the most, what type of style of |
| shoes are protected and the boxes will last years - I | | | | clothing you really feel the most comfortable and |
| have boxes over 15 years old that I still use. Use a box | | | | happiest wearing and it shows you in your closet what |
| too for small fancy purses.b. There are several types | | | | you are not wearing. Try it for each season and you'll |
| of shoe holders out there. Many people use the 2-3 | | | | quickly and easily find out what to get rid of and a |
| level racks that go in the bottom of the closet. Take a | | | | better understanding of what type of clothing to buy |
| look at the shoe trees that are metal, stand about two | | | | (or not) in the future to really fit your style and needs. |
| feet tall, have 3 levels and hold 18 pairs of shoes in a | | | | Try this and you'll really be surprised. |
| 16 inch diameter circle. Cost is about $32. You can put | | | | 8. Hooks & Pegs. Things that you wear frequently, like |
| it in the closet or in your room in an easy to access | | | | your robe and pjs, hang them on hooks or pegs and |
| but 'hidden' space, since I went to these (I have two full | | | | save the room in your closet for other things. There |
| ones), I simply love them due to saving space, ease of | | | | are over the door hooks, wall mounted, ornate and |
| finding the shoes I want and putting them away again | | | | plain pegs & hooks and places you can place them |
| and the flexibility of where to put the shoe tree. Just | | | | that is more convenient than in the closet and yet not |
| love it. | | | | be an eyesore. Not a new idea, but one that is all too |
| 4. Joy Magano of Huggable Hanger fame at HSN also | | | | often over looked and not maximized. Near you |
| has a wonderful device that is new in hangers you | | | | outside door hooks for your coats and gain space in |
| need to check out, especially if you are a guy or you | | | | the entrance closet. A hook in the garage for the 'dirty |
| wear a lot of scarves. The hanger may look a bit odd | | | | task' jacket. A hook in the kitchen for the kitchen |
| - it has rows of 'hooks' down each end and the middle | | | | towel. |
| looks like some pant hangers where you put pants on | | | | 9. Get your WOW factor up. I love to look through |
| each bar. Well, this new hanger actually has multiple | | | | catalogs and think about buying an item or two or |
| uses - belts and neckties for the guys, even silk | | | | three, or hit a store and fall for a great bargain or new |
| neckties won't slip off, it keeps everything organized | | | | style BUT I don't buy. Wait 3 days, plus look in your |
| and very easy to view all on a hanger. The hanger | | | | closet at what you already have and does what you |
| also works great for women's belts, scarves or | | | | want fit in, do you need it or is it a just 'want' it feeling. |
| hanging pocket books. You could even use it for | | | | If after 3 days and going through your closet, you still |
| hanging large necklaces with pendants or large | | | | feel the need to get the new item(s), then do so. But |
| beaded ones that you wear often. | | | | you have to take a piece of clothing of your closet |
| 5. You already know that if you don't wear some | | | | too, to put the new one in. |
| clothes/coats/shoes, you need to get rid of them. You | | | | 10. This is for those of you who really have a difficult |
| can give them to friends, charity, have a yard sale, | | | | time not buying clothes. Every time you DON'T buy |
| throw away, or sell at a consignment shop. But I would | | | | something because you stopped yourself for some |
| like to push you a bit further.a. If you sell at | | | | reason, take the money you would have spent on the |
| consignment shops, do your homework on the | | | | clothing and put in a jar or open a special bank |
| different requirements of each. Length item can stay in | | | | account. Have a picture, vision board or collage of |
| the store, amount of business, type of clothing usually | | | | what you will do once you have enough money. Make |
| bought by customers. If you have vintage clothing, say | | | | your vision a really good one, like a trip or pay off debt, |
| from college or your parents - find a vintage store. | | | | buy a car of your dreams, etc. You'll find that every |
| Dresses fit for proms, weddings, formal and | | | | time you start putting the unspent money into your |
| semi-formal occasions should be in consignment stores | | | | private super goal account, the more you'll want to do |
| by the end of March - beginning of April (if you have | | | | it. Result: you don't add more to your closet, over time |
| gloves, handbag or jewelry that you've used to | | | | you really find what you clothes you really want and |
| accessorize the dress, include them as part of the | | | | are willing to spend money on and those you really |
| dress and it will sell even faster).b. Coats and gloves | | | | don't see as much value in purchasing, your closet |
| and boots if they are small enough are great to take | | | | contents should decrease and you'll easily achieve a |
| to your local schools. The school will make sure the | | | | great goal that you didn't think you ever would have |
| items go to the kids really need them. This also | | | | been able to do. It's amazing how this actually works |
| includes backpacks.c. My parents died and I had to find | | | | subconsciously and it is a great thing to teach children. |
| a place for their clothing and I cleaned out more from | | | | So, now you have 10 new and exciting ways to get |
| my wardrobe but didn't want a yard sale. So I found a | | | | your closet more organized, make it easier for you to |
| local family that didn't have much and made a deal | | | | understand your clothing needs and how to keep |
| with them. I gave them all of the clothing, dishes, kids | | | | things neater/more organized and utilize your closet |
| clothing & items, furniture and such, with the | | | | space better. Enjoy your success. |
| understanding that they should take only what they | | | | |