Organize It: Linen Closet

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I actually like to clean. This may make me a huge dork, but you have to agree—being in an organized room is uplifting, relaxing, and encouraging. Don’t just take my word for it, though. Ariane Benefit, an organizing coach from Bloomfield, NJ, lists 10 reasons how clutter badly affects your life on her blog. Trust me, you don’t want any of those things happening to you, so you better start cleaning now.

Here are five easy steps to tackle that messy linen closet you’ve been meaning to get to for quite sometime.

1. Get it outta there. Don’t try to cheat by just pulling out a couple of items at one time. By removing everything from your closet, you can actually take stock of your full inventory—and you may find a few things you’ve been missing.
2. Give it a scrub. It makes no sense to put your clean linens in a dirty closet, so give it a good washing. Dust every shelf and even vacuum the floor. If your shelves are unstained, lay contact paper over them—unfinished wood can color linens.
3. Divide and separate. Make piles for all your linen types, throwing away or donating all unnecessary items. As a general rule, keep two sets of sheets for every bed in your house (maybe one extra to serve as a drop cloth) and two sets of towels per person per week. If you’ve inherited antique linens, get them out of the closet by reusing them in a way that won’t harm them. For a few tips, check out this article.
4. Origami. Folding linens is a true art form. By arranging them in just the right fashion, you save space and make your closet look a little tidier. Try folding towels in thirds lengthwise and then folding them in a square. Consider hanging your tablecloths on the back of the door to save space and keep them wrinkle-free. I especially like this rack from The Container Store. And organize your sheets by slipping the set into a coordinating pillowcase to make sure nothing gets lost. If you want more tips on how to fold everything from a dress shirt to a fitted sheet, check out Real Simple’s tutorials or the step-by-step instructions for folding sheets on our blog.
5. Putting it all away. Now here comes the tricky part. Storing towers of bath towels and rolls of toilet paper is not the easiest task. Using shelf dividers like this one keeps your towels from toppling over, and organizing toilet paper and cleaning rags in crunch cans puts them at easy reach. Stack towels with the folded edge out, so they’re easier to grab, and limit the number of items you stack on one shelf. Cramming too many towels or tablecloths on a shelf will make it harder for you to grab them.

When it’s all said and done, stand back and admire your hard work. Now, every time you reach for a washcloth you’ll not only find it, you’ll also feel a little more peaceful.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Comments

[Jayne]

I agree, I have always enjoyed to organize. It's great to clear the mind, very therapeutic!