{Guest Post} Serious Closet Cleaning

A BIG WELCOME to Walter Munsen of the Closet Factory! He's here today sharing suggestions for serious closet cleaning. Follow along for his helpful tips and important reminders about keeping closet clutter under control!

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Are your closets and drawers in need of some serious clutter clearing?  Do you have trouble finding the pieces to your outfit when you have five minutes to get out the door or be late for work?  If this sounds like you, consider an all out assault on the problem.

Approach the problem like boot camp – you’re out of shape and drastic measures might be called for. These five steps should get your drawers and closets under control.

#1 Ask for a friend’s help. Pick someone with good taste and the ability to be tactful.  Everyone makes fashion mistakes. Let him or her suggest items that just aren’t flattering.  Consider providing wine and snacks and definitely offer to return the favor.

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#2 Take everything out of the closet or drawers. Studies show that you will get rid of 20-25% more items if you consciously have to put items back in the space you are cleaning than if you are simply cherry picking items to take out.  Take the time to clean or paint the empty spaces if needed.

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#3 Most people wear 20-25% of their clothes 75-80% of the time. This means that there is a lot of opportunity for thinning things out. Unless it has sentimental value, if you haven’t worn it in a year or two it is a candidate to go.

#4 Confront two stereotypes that we see all too often. For women, consider size issues. If you are a size 10, it isn’t a problem holding on to the size 8’s, but be realistic about anything more than a size removed from your current wardrobe.  If you do get back to a size 6, you deserve some new clothes!  For men, there is no way you will ever use the number of ratty t-shirts and jeans that you’re hoarding for “painting” or “working around the yard."  Let them go!

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#5 Don’t just move the clutter.  Have a plan for what you will do with the unwanted items. Donate, sell or dispose, but whatever you do, do it immediately. Relocating the clutter to the basement or garage really doesn’t solve the problem.

Follow these steps and you should have clutter under control.  A final tip for keeping it that way: consider a replacement strategy.  No new items go into the wardrobe until another piece goes.

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For more than nine years the Closet Factory has been designing and manufacturing custom storage solutions. Closets, laundry rooms, home offices, pantries and more! Search and shop online at www.closetfactory.com or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Looking for additional closet organizational tips? See our popular post Shed Happens!