Keeping your clothing closet neat, clean, and organized can be overwhelming. How many times have you been unable to find your favorite piece of clothing or have you spent forever looking for that seasonal item that you rarely wear? What about the shoes? Do they end up in a big pile on the floor? It is not to worry! Purging and organizing your closet can be a very simple and painless process and the results will be worth it.

The first step is to completely empty the closet. Yes, you read that right… get everything out of the closet! You have to start with a clean slate. Once you’ve got everything out of the way, take the time to wipe down all of the cabinet surfaces. Vacuum, sweep, wipe down shelves, baseboards, and light fixtures. You will be surprised how dusty a closet can get.

Now is the time to sort the items in your closet. No purge yet, just qualifying. The best way to achieve this is to keep similar items together. Pants with pants, skirts with skirts, shoes with shoes. You get the idea. Take this time to decide if the items really belong in your clothing closet. Are you keeping items other than clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry in your closet? If so, try to find a better location for those items. They can take up much-needed space and make the closet cluttered. If you share your closet with another person, keep your items separate. You should always have a designated area/side of the closet.

Once all the items are sorted, it’s time to start purging! Be sure to have large plastic bags or cardboard boxes on hand for donations. It will separate the items you are purging into one of three categories; keep, donate or throw away. Go through each of your sorted piles and look at each item. You like? Do you use it often? Is it new or is it in good condition? So save it. Is it out of style? Doesn’t fit right? Do you never or rarely use it? It’s time to donate it. Is it worn, stained or full of holes? Time to throw it away! One great piece of advice is if you haven’t used it in a year, go ahead and get rid of it.

With everything purged, the real fun can begin. Take the time to evaluate your closet vs. empty. what’s left after the purge. Think about which items you use the most or need to access faster. If your closet space is at a premium, think of some options to maximize your space. An over the door shoe rack can eliminate piles of shoes on the floor. Inexpensive bins or baskets on the shelves can help keep hard-to-hang items like purses, scarves and cold-weather accessories organized. A belt or tie hanger allows you to quickly and easily see what you really own. Most stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, BB&B, and even The Dollar Tree, have storage and organization solutions. I would not recommend purchasing any organizing bins until AFTER you purge. You can’t make a decision about what will work best for your space until you see what you’re actually working with.

Here are some additional options that can really make your closet look like it was organized by a professional:

Subcategorize similar items. For example: Separate shirts by sleeve length, such as long-sleeves, short-sleeves, and sleeveless.

Color the clothing categories from light to dark. It looks amazing and makes finding a specific item a breeze.

Invest in matching coated hangers. They look polished and help keep clothes on hangers.

If shelves are available, try folding bulky items like sweaters or jeans.

If you use containers for storage, choose clear plastic so you can easily identify the items. If clear isn’t available or doesn’t meet your style preferences, try labeling the bins/baskets with decorative labels.

If there are shelves available for shoe storage, invest in 6 qt storage bins. Sterilite makes one that is clear, has a lid, and can be stacked for about $1 each. They fit most shoes.

Hang all your clothes in the same direction. When you hold the hanger in front of you, the top of the hanger should make a question mark (this is a retail industry standard).

Keep an empty basket or container in the designated donation closet. Anytime you try something on and you really don’t like it, it doesn’t fit, or you’re just plain tired of it, throw it in the donation bin and donate it when it’s full.

Designate an area of ​​the closet for empty hangers. When I remove an item of clothing from a hanger, I place the empty hanger on the end of a rack. On laundry days, I don’t have to search for empty hangers.

Depending on the size of your closet and the number of items you own, it can take approximately 4-8 hours to refresh. The time and effort it takes to declutter and rearrange your space will be well worth it. Happy organizing!!