Order Out Of Chaos
Closet Organization
A Moment's Notice
Would you like to keep track of your wardrobe online? A company called Perfectly Placed has just unveiled a new product called "A Moment's Notice." There are so many benefits!
•You wear 20% of your clothes, 80% of the time. If you could remember what was in there, you'd make use of the other 80%.
• Your clothes are spread out in a variety of
places and you can't remember where you keep
x, y and z.
• You tend to buy too many similar items. Searching by category, color or designer would help you determine where the "holes" are in your
wardrobe.
• You own more than one home and leave clothes in both places. You find it difficult to remember what you have left at the other home.
• You hang onto your clothes longer than you should. Seeing the dates you purchased the items would encourage you to let go of some things and free up some space.
• You have lost more clothes at the dry cleaner
than you can count. Having a system for tracking
what is at the cleaners would help you tremendously.
• You frequently speak in public, appear on TV or attend networking functions. It is important
that you track what you wore to each event.
• You have lost your luggage more than once while traveling. If you had provided proper documentation of what was in the suitcase, you would have been reimbursed.
• Your jewelry collection is valuable. Having
documentation of its value for insurance
purposes is essential.
you can shop right in your own closet..... and the
cost is much less.
Taming Your Clothes Closet
If your closet is overflowing and you can’t find anything to wear, it is probably time to clean it out. The good news is that you don’t have to do the entire project at once. Ask yourself what bothers you most and start there.
If that doesn’t work, begin by pulling out anything that you definitely want to get rid of such as clothes that don’t fit or that are out-of-style. Making some easy decisions first will get you motivated and give you more room to work. Just make sure to put the clothes into boxes or bags and take them directly to be consigned or donated. Don’t let them clutter your room in place of your closet.
The floor and shelves can be a bit trickier. Begin by sorting items into categories such as keep, donate, trash, goes somewhere else, or any other category you need.
Once you have sorted your items, take time to clean the shelves and/or floor before putting things back.
Do you have trouble making decisions about what to keep? Ask yourself if you have worn the item in the past year. Do you see yourself wearing it soon? If not, let go of it and claim more space in your closet.
Another option to help you decide what to part with is to hang all of your clothes backwards on the rod. After you wear them, turn the hanger around the appropriate way. Set a deadline for yourself. When that day comes, get rid of the items that are still hung backwards in the closet.
If you are not sure about donating or consigning your unwanted items, consider a clothing exchange. Get a group of friends together and encourage everyone to bring their unwanted clothing (This works well with kids’ clothing and toys, too!). Everyone looks through what everyone else brought. Anyone can take something as long as they brought something to contribute. This is a great way to get something in return for what you are giving, while having a great time with friends. However, if your closet is already overflowing, this is probably not the best idea for you.
Once you get your closet under control, the key to keeping it that way is regular maintenance. Sort through it at least every six months, getting rid of anything damaged, outgrown, or out-of-style. Regular maintenance will keep your closet much neater and your clothes much more assessable.
Kendra Husk is a Professional Organizer and the owner of Order Out Of Chaos, LLC. You can get a free Order Out Of Chaos Motivational-Pak filled with simple tips to help you get organized. Simply visit her Web site: http://www.theorderoutofchaos.com or e-mail her at kendra@theorderoutofchaos.com or call (502)322-7170.
