Hooray! Its that time again. Purge, Purge, Purge. Spring Cleaning is here and its time for all of us homeowners to shead some items we no longer need. It also a great opportunity to donate to shelters and organizations in need. It seems like they are remembered at Christmas and no other time. So here are a few great tips for putting your linen closet in its place and allowing yourself to feel good everytime you go there.
Professional organizer, Dawn McCloskey offers these 13 easy steps to having an organized linen closet:
1. Remove everything from the closet and sort into piles: pillows, blankets, sheets, towels, and table linens. If you keep excess toiletries, put that in a pile.
2. Keep two sets of linens for each bed and 2-3 sets of towels for each person.
3. Clean the linen closet – sponge clean the shelves and line solid shelving with acid-free tissue paper (found at art supply stores) because it won’t discolor fabrics over time.
4. Adjust shelving to proper heights so air can circulate and linens stay fresh: 10” for sheets and table linens, 12”-16” for towels and 18” or more from the top for bulky items like pillows and blankets.
5. You can organize the closet by type (all sheets on one shelf, towels on another, etc.) or by family member (all master linens on one shelf, child’s on another, table linens on a third). If you opt to organize by family member, make sure each shelf is organized the same way, towels to the left, sheets in the center. No matter which way you choose to organize, less-often used items such as pillows, blankets/quilts and beach towels should be stored on the top shelf.
6. Towels – fold bath towels in thirds lengthwise, then in half, then in half again so they’ll stack perfectly and fit most shelves. Hand towels can be folded in thirds lengthwise, then in half.
7. Blankets, comforters, quilts, and pillows – store in original bags or in vacuum-sealed Space Bags on the top shelf. Space Bags are great because they seal out moisture and bugs.
8. Sheets – fold together and store them inside the pillowcase. Another option besides the linen closet – store them under the mattress of the bed the sheets will be used on.
9. Table linens – if space allows, store linens in the dining room buffet or a drawer in the kitchen. An option for table cloths: hang on a wooden hanger from a hook mounted on the inside of the door. Table linens can be stored near the top of the closet.
10. Antique linens – have professionally cleaned and wrapped in acid-free tissue paper to prevent yellowing. Store linens as flat as possible to avoid stressing the fabric. If they must be folded, use acid-free tissue to muslin. They can also be stored by rolling them onto cardboard tubes wrapped with acid-free tissue.
11. Excess toiletries – use stylish baskets, bins or storage tubs with lids that can be stacked or a shoe organizer hung on the inside of the door.
12. Labels – label the sides of shelves so everyone, including guests, will know where to find things. Adhesive labels can be placed on the edges of solid shelving, while laminated cardstock can be mounted using twist-ties or cable ties.
13. Keeping the closet smelling fresh – place a box of baking soda on one of the shelves, place sachets among the contents, or use cedar blocks to keep the linens fresh smelling.
After you’ve accomplished the goal of organizing the closet, pat yourself on the back and enjoy the fruits of your labor by knowing where everything goes, and where to find it.
Dawn McCloskey is a residential professional organizer and founder of Ultra Organized, LLC in Cumming, Georgia. Ultra Organized helps busy families lead better lives by creating order from chaos. McCloskey is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. For more information, call 770-844-1049, email dawn@ultraorganized.com or visit www.ultraorganized.com.
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