Closet Organization: Tips and Tricks to Clear the Clutter

A cluttered closet is far too common. But, with our favorite closet organization ideas, you’ll ensure your wardrobe, linen, and accessories stays fresh and accessible.

Keeping your closet organized does more than make your favorite clothing items easy to find or elevate once-lost garments; it will also save you money and reduce stress. An orderly closet, more money in your pockets, and anxiety-free living?

That seems like a win to us, and all it takes is small steps and our favorite summer closet-organizing tips.

Cleaning Closet Ideas

Before you get things into their proper place, you have to decide which items still deserve a spot in your closet. That means getting rid of attire you no longer want to wear.

For some, picking things to discard can feel like choosing friends to forget. It’s not easy.

If you’re struggling in that department, there is a range of closet-cleaning ideas available to help.

For instance, some swear by the approach of shedding anything they haven’t worn in two years. Others follow a buy-something-new-toss-something-old philosophy.

You can also try the tidying method made famous by Marie Kondo. Touch every piece in your closet and ask yourself, “Does this bring me joy?”

If the answer is “yes,” then keep it. Otherwise, get rid of it. This method allows you to keep sentimental favorites while also permitting yourself to ditch outfits that feel more like an obligation than a source of joy.

Working through this entire process can seem like a lot, but you’ll reap plenty of benefits. Resurfacing long-lost favorites means not spending more money searching for a clothing item you already have.

Of course, once you’ve cleaned your closet of unwanted clothes, you may need to rid it of unwanted odors. 

Wet & Forget Indoor will eliminate musty odors and disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. Disinfecting your closet surfaces can help prevent your clean clothes from picking up stale odors.

To use, simply spray surfaces and allow them to remain visibly wet for at least 10 minutes. Then you can let the area air dry or give it a quick wipe.

To keep mold and mildew at bay, spray once a week or whenever you notice the odors again.

What to Do With Your Discarded Wardrobe

Now that you’ve cleaned your closet of unwanted wardrobe items, you can’t let them congregate on your bedroom floor. Keeping them in a pile merely moves a mess around instead of solving the problem.

A popular option here is to donate the discarded items. While that makes you feel good about your choices, you should be careful here.

Generally, to donate items, they need to be of good quality and without stains or tears. Otherwise, you’re merely handing over items for someone else to toss out.

If giving your discards away for free makes you break out in a cold sweat, you can try to convert your surplus garments into cash.

To get some green for your clean but unwanted clothes, head to a local resale shop and see how much they’ll give you. You may also find upcycling retailers who will happily convert old duds into resellable products.

Alternatively, you could take on the recycling responsibilities yourself:

• Dye or patch damaged clothes to give them new life.
• Turn sentimental selection that’s no longer wearable into a quilt or tote.
• Cut down a t-shirt into a dog shirt or pillowcase.
• Transform old clothes into rags and clean cloths.
• Get creative and use it as gift wrap.

Converting old clothes into something new saves you money and helps the environment. You’re preventing items from being thrown away and keeping yourself from spending money on something you can make yourself. 

And, in the case of cleaning cloths, you’ll have something reusable instead of paper towels or other one-use tools that keep you running to the store to purchase more.

Closet Organization Ideas

The goal with closet organizer systems is typically two-fold: First, they allow you to make the most of your space, and second, they make it easier to find what’s there.

Let’s tackle that first reason and explore some small closet organization ideas.

Before you start researching new closet accessories or organization systems, you can create more space by storing what you have in a new way.

For example, many people fold shirts incorrectly. You can prevent wrinkles, make your tees more accessible, and create more space by folding them as professionals do. (You can employ a similar technique for your linen closet, too.)

If you’ve previously hung your t-shirts or left them in a mound on an unoccupied chair, this will free up more usable space.

Another way to add more surface area to your closet storage is a door-mounted system. Even something as simple as additional hooks on the inside of your closet door can give you more room for storing accessories. 

Other-storage options include over-the-door shoe organizers or mounted baskets. These can help with some of your heftier accessories or towels and blankets.

Vacuum storage can also help when you need to store clothing over longer periods. Storage bags come in a range of sizes.

That allows you to keep bulky items like comforters, pillows, and even mattresses stored and protected from potential pests. Of course, you can also use vacuum storage to stash winter clothes over the summer months and vice versa.

Closet Organization Systems

There are times when merely creating more space isn’t enough. That’s when you should employ closet organization systems to make finding your clothes a simple, uncluttered task.

Now, you can purchase complete systems to install yourself. If you’re looking to tackle the issue in one fell swoop, this may be the best option.

That said, you can also customize your own solution by supplementing what’s already in your closet with new shelves, storage bins, and dividers. A personalized solution enables you to conquer the specific issue your closet faces without having to redo the entire space.

Drawer organizers, for instance, can keep socks and underwear tidy and separated. Instead of an entangled mess of fabric, you’ll quickly identify a clean pair to wear.

With all this in mind, here are some additional tips for creating a custom closet organization system:

• Clear stackable show bins keep your footwear accessible and organized.
• Clothing storage bins can store out-of-season clothes or items saved for special occasions.
• Expanding coat racks fit almost everywhere while adding storage options for hats, accessories, and, yes, coats.
• Hanger dividers can help separate formal outfits from your casual clothes.
• Mounted closet lights add illumination to dark closets.
• Rolling hampers mean your dirty clothes don’t end up on your floor or at the bottom of your closet.

Organizing Your Closet Is Simple With the Right Tips

Tackling your messy closet can seem like an impossible mission. But, with our summertime tips for closet organization and cleaning, you’ll discover more space while ensuring you never forget about your favorite items.