12 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Closet

by Erin Sharplin Love

There is just something about springtime that welcomes the new, clean, and refreshed!  For me, spring is the time to breathe new life into my home and spaces, especially the closet.  After months of heavy, cold- weather clothing, it is finally time to bring the dresses, flowy tops, and open-toe shoes to the front and center.  Imagine starting and ending your day in a well-organized closet that holds endless outfit opportunities.  This sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?  Oh, but it’s not!  I create these spaces for clients on a regular basis, and I am about to let you in on all of my secrets.  I hope you enjoy!

1.  Change all of your hangers to matching hangers.   If you incorporate only one of my suggestions into your own closet, this should be the one.  Changing your hangers so they all match makes an immediate difference in the look and feel of your closet, and you will be able store more clothes because mismatched hangers will no longer be fighting for space.  My new favorite hangers are the slimline, velvet ones.  Amazon makes the best.  

2.  Organize like with like and in color order.    In other words, all tops should hang together, in color order, and all bottoms should hang together in color order.  I prefer to organize from lightest to darkest, but if you prefer the opposite, go ahead.  Also, in this same vein, I suggest separating any matching pieces (suits, etc.) as it helps you consider them when mixing and matching.  Just remember to launder the matching pieces together so they fade at the same pace.  *Tip:  If the thought of separating your matching pieces makes you cringe,  it’s ok!  In the end, this is your closet and it should be organized the way you feel serves you the best.  

3.  Organize your shoes by alternating the direction of each one.  I prefer the right shoe toe forward and the left shoe heel forward, but again, go with your own preference.  This method typically allows for one more pair of shoes on each shelf, plus you will be able to tell the heel height of each shoe in one glance!  *Tip:  This same concept applies to glassware.  Alternate you glasses by mouth up and mouth down.  Most of the time you will be able to fit another glass.

4.  Create some sort of division in your closet.  For instance, I love using hanging organizers to divide shirts and pants.  This division helps break up the monotony of full lines of clothing, and it helps create vertical organization space.  The organizers can be used to house sweaters, of course, but I also put jeans, shoes, purses, etc. in them!  

5.  Add a double-hang rod if needed.  If you have one long-hang bar in your closet, then this tip is for you.  The addition of a double-hang rod will immediately increase your hanging space and it is perfect to utilize all vertical space.  You can hang tops from them, but I’ve even hung purses on them before, so use your imagination and make the most of the space you have.  You can purchase the double-hang rods from Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, or, if you prefer shopping from home, Amazon.  

6.  Use organizing bins, but label them!  As a professional organizer, I love bins and baskets, but have found that once an item goes into a bin or basket, it has a tendency to be forgotten. An efficient way to keep up with stored belongings is to label each bin.   You can make the label fit your color scheme and preferences by creating or finding a design online and then printing it.  Baskets are great for housing out-of-season items, but they can also hold everyday pieces such as hats, socks, camisoles, etc.  Also, one of the latest trends is to use all clear organizing bins, however, I am not always a fan of them.  If a client is visually stimulated, for instance, the look and feel of being able to see through the bins will be distracting and not lend itself to a clean, organized closet.  Of course, there are times that they are beneficial.  It all depends on what is going inside of them.  I prefer clear bins for small purses and clutches that hold their shape and will not appear disheveled inside of the bin, for instance.  All in all, the organizing pieces that are used can make or break the overall look and feel of the closet, so be aware of this while purchasing products.  

7.  Help your boots and purses maintain their shape by stuffing them.  Of course, there are organizing products that have been made specifically for this, but if you want to save money by using something you probably already have in your house, I have a few ideas.  I have used everything from newspaper, magazines, and tissue paper to water and wine bottles to stuff boots.  For purses, I typically get a gallon zip-lock bag and stuff it with tissue paper or newspaper and then place it inside each purse.  Using a zip-lock makes the stuffing easy to remove when you want to use the bag.  

8.  Use the “hanger trick” to help you decide what to keep and what to toss.   The “hanger trick” is a tool I use to help my clients realize when it is time to let a clothing item go.  To use this trick, turn all of your hangers backwards on your rods.  When you wear something, return the hanger to its original position.  After one full month, notice which hangers are still turned around backwards.  Those are the items that should get special attention now.  Perhaps you will make sure to use them in an upcoming outfit, or you will decide to get rid of them.  Either way, the hanger trick paid off. 

9.  Use the two-year rule instead of the one-year rule!  Some professional organizers suggest that you should get rid of anything that you haven’t worn in one year, but I think that two years is a better estimate of when an item has passed its prime. 

10.  Figure out how to make use of all available vertical space.  The amount of vertical space that is unused in most closets is astounding!!  You can see so many opportunities to go vertical if you take a little time to study the space.  One solution might be to use those hanging organizers previously mentioned or you can add extenders to all available shelf space.  Ask yourself what can be stacked and how.  

11.  Treat your closet as you would any other room in your home and personalize it.  This is one of my number one tips because it makes such a huge difference in the look and feel of a closet.  Add pictures, a rug, a plant, or anything else that you like. 

12.  Create a boutique-like atmosphere by incorporating mannequins and busts.  Mannequins and busts are perfect for displaying jewelry and scarves!  Take inspiration from your favorite boutique and then create your own little nook.  They don’t have to be used inside the closet, by the way.  Make a space just outside of the closet if you don’t have enough room inside.  

Ladies, believe me, you will feel AMAZING after spring cleaning your closet.  I can’t wait to hear all about it!  Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you need help.