Keeping Your Wardrobe Organized

To maximize your wardrobe, you need to keep your bedroom and closet as organized and tidy as possible. Otherwise it’s virtually impossible to even know what you have available to wear. Now that spring is here, let’s start with some spring cleaning tips to help you keep your wardrobe organized. Not everyone is born a clean freak, but we should all strive to be a little less messy.

Clean Out Your Closet
At the beginning of each season, clean out your closet. Split out your clothes in five piles–keep, toss, fix, store and give. The keep pile, of course, is the clothes that you wear regularly and want to keep in your rotation. The toss pile are clothes that are so worn or out of style that the Salvation Army wouldn’t even want them. The fix pile are clothes that need a tailor or repairs. This pile should also include any clothes that you need to take to the dry cleaner but haven’t gotten around to it. The store pile are the clothes that you aren’t going to wear this season. And finally, the give pile should be clothes that are in good condition but you no longer wear.

Take your keep pile and hang all the clothes up on hangers or fold them into drawers. Organize them by color or by type (work apparel, weekend clothes, evening wear). This will make getting dressed a lot easier in the morning.

Carry your toss pile directly to the trash. There is no reason to be nostalgic about these clothes. You are never going to wear them again and they are just wasting space.

Split your fix pile into three separate groups–tailor, cleaners and sew. Put the tailor and cleaners pile into your car right now and drop them off next time you leave the house. Set aside some time tonight to fix anything in the sew pile. Replacing a missing button or fixing a hem takes just a few minutes.

Fold everything in your store pile and place into plastic storage boxes underneath your bed or in the back of your closet.

Make sure all the clothes are laundered in your give pile. Place them in your car as well and drop them off at Goodwill, the Salvation Army, a thrift shop or other charity.

Dust and Vacuum Regularly
You’d be surprised how much happier and more organized you will be in a clean environment. Set a specific time every week to clean and vacuum your home regularly, including your bedroom and your closet.

Put Away Your Laundry Promptly
It’s always so easy to leave your clothes piled in the basket when they come out of the dryer, but don’t do it. Instead hang or fold them immediately. This will not only cut down on wrinkles, but you will also be able to find your favorite top when you want it.

Shop Wisely
Though it’s tempting to buy every trendy piece of clothing you see, this will only lead to more clutter and mess in your closet. Instead, pick versatile items that you know you are going to wear. If you don’t have enough closet space, stay organized with plastic containers, shelving and bureaus. Clean out your closet at least once every three months. Though you might still be a little messy on a daily basis, staying organized and clean will make your life a whole lot easier.